on the Conway. 133 
small pebbles, and the pearls, which settle in the bottom. After 
numerous washings, until the fishy part is entirely removed, 
the sediment, if I may so term it, is put out to dry, and Sachi 
pearl separated on a large wooden platter, one at a time, with 
a feather ; and when a sufficient quantity is obtained, they are 
taken to the ov erseer, who pays the fisher so much per ounce 
for them. The price varies from 1s. 6d. to 4s.; there are a 
number of persons who live by this alone; and where there 
is a small family to gather the shells and pick out the fish, 
it is preferable to any other daily labour. The pearls are 
generally a dirty white, sometimes blue, but never, I be- 
lieve, green or reddish, I have sent you a few specimens 
25 (fig. 25.), and I leave you to describe them. 
aXM9o I cannot with accuracy say how many ounces 
Sha oy we taken to the overseer each week, though 
Oe ) 9) I might say that there are some scores. But 
what makes this fishery the more singular 
is the mystery which hangs over it. At present it is a per- 
fect monopoly, and there is but the one who buys them up 
that knows what becomes of them afterwards. It has been 
carried on in this manner for many years; and as such a 
thing, if made public, might prove more beneficial to the 
neighbour ing poor, by causing a higher price to be given for 
the pearls, thr ough competition, it would be very den able if 
any of your numerous correspondents could throw some light 
on this interesting subject. ‘There have been some curious 
and fanciful surmises, which may not be thought worth men- 
tioning. Some suppose that the pearls are sent abroad to be 
manufactured into seed pearls : others, more gravely, that they 
are exported to India to be dissolved in the sherbet of the 
Nabobs!! However, at present it is a mystery; and not- 
withstanding the pains taken and the expense incurred by 
some liberal gentlemen in endeavouring to find out the secret, 
it is as great a mystery as ever. The huts which have been 
erected for the convenience of boiling the fish, are on the ex- 
tremity of the marsh, about a mile north of the town of Conway. 
The pearls are seldom found here much larger than the en- 
closed specimens, though about twelve miles up the river, they 
have been found occasionally as large as a moderate-sized pea, 
and have been sold for a guinea “the couple, but they are 
very rarely met with. Wher I say that the price varies from 
1s. 6d. to 4s., I do not mean to say that they are valued 
according to their size, for the large and small ‘pearls are all 
sold together ; but some years ago they were as high as 4+s., 
now they are only 2s, per ounce. Yours, &c. — 
Nov. 27. 1829. Dac, 
KON 
