23 | 
looked for, west of Ohio; but gradually the line has ex- 
tended to Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas ; and now Wis- 
consin is the principal pearl-producing State ; while some 
pearls are sent from Florida, Nebraska and Washington 
State. 
Some of the earliest American pearls that were found 
came from near Waynesville, Ohio ; $3,000 worth having 
been collected in that vicinity during the pearl excite- 
ment in 1878. At that time Israel H. Harris, of Waynes- 
ville, began what has since become one of the finest and 
best known collections of Unio pearls in this country, 
purchasing, during many years, every specimen of value 
that he could find in that part of the State. Among his 
pearls was one button-shaped on the back and weighing ~ 
88 grains, also several almost transparent pink ones, and 
an interesting specimen showing where a pearl had grown | 
almost entirely through the Unio shell. His collection 
contained more than 2,000 pearls, weighing over 2,000 
grains, and is in all probability the last collection that will 
be made from that district. It was exhibited in the Jew- 
elry Department at the World’s Fair in Paris, in 1889. 
A pearl from Montpelier, Vermont, was sold for $300 ; 
one from Waynesville, Ohio, valued at $200; one from 
Boston, Texas, valued at $250; one pink pearl, 193 grains, 
from Murfreesborough, Tennessee, valued at $80, another 
at $150; one from Llano, Texas, valued at $95, have been 
sold in New York. 
The production during recent years has been as follows : 
September, 1881 to 1882.......... 210 lots worth $7,500 
September, 1882 to 1883.......... 72 lots worth $5,000 
September, 1883, to August, 1884, 71 lots worth $5,000 
American pearls, until within the past few years, were 
generally sold at a figure below their real value, and the 
values of the above to-day would be fully two or three 
times those amounts; and at present the local value is 
often exaggerated several times above their true value. 
