52 
of which are Haliotis splendens and Haliotis rufescens 
(called ormer in the Channel Island, fuh-yu in China, awabi 
in Japan, and abalone in California), also secretes pearls. 
The nacreous portion of the shell itself is used for orna- 
mental purposes, such as buttons, etc., and surface orna- 
mentation in lacquer work, papier-mache, etc. The mol- 
lusk itself, called ‘‘ mutton-fish’’ by the New Zealanders, 
has long been known to the Indians of the Pacific coast as 
a valuable article of food, and it is much sought after by the 
Japanese and Chinese for the same purpose. The former 
take only the very smallest fish, and eat them when freshly. 
caught, with cayenne pepper and vinegar, while the Chi- 
nese seek out the largest, and eat them only after they have 
been dried. 
The trade in this dried meat is considerable. In 1866 
there were exported from San Francisco by steamer 1,697 
sacks, valued at $14,440, and in 1867 the exports had risen 
to 3,713 sacks, valued at $33,090. At present there are ex- 
ported upward of 200 tons a year, which at $175 a ton 
would amount to $35,000. At San Diego, Cal., the dried 
meat is quoted at$110a ton. The shells vary from almost 
microscopic size to eight or teninchesin diameter. Before 
they were found to have marketable value, they were 
thrown away. One heap a little south of San Diego, con- 
taining over a hundred tons of shells, from exposure to the 
rain and the sun, was converted into lime on the outside ; 
but this was broken into and many fine shells were found. 
The Pueblo, Zuni and Navajo Indians, and all the Indians 
of the Pacific coast as far north as Alaska, have made the 
abalone shell into charms and have used it for ornamenta- 
tion with remarkable taste, forages. It was used with great 
success by Messrs. Tiffany & Co., as an applied decoration 
on silver objects, and was exhibited at the World’s Fair 
held in Paris during 1889. 
The collector of customs at San Francisco furnishes the 
information that for the fiscal year 1887-1888, the export of 
