104 PEARL FISHING. 
but they are very wary, the least vibration making them close 
their shells. In shallow water they are raised by the hand, or 
those possessed of flexibility of toe can grasp and sling them into 
shallow water. For deeper water a stick about six or seven feet 
long, having a slit at one end, tied with cord to prevent its splitting. 
is used. ‘his is forced over the shell, and the spring of the wood 
clasps it firm enough to land them. One ingenious party, who had 
been tantalised by a particularly nice-looking mussel in deep 
water, waited patiently until the fish opened its shell. He then 
gently inserted the point of his fishing rod, and on feeling the 
intrusion the shell was closed and the fish landed. Fishers with 
worm at times land them, the hook, getting into the open shell and 
the fish closing, cause their own capture. Long handled rakes, 
with a few long teeth, are also used. These are inserted below 
the shell, but an instrument of more ingenuity than any of these 
is two large inverted spoons attached to wooden shafts. These 
are jomted near where grasped by the hand. A spring keeps 
them open, but pressure closes them when required, and the fish 
is raised without trouble. The fishing is, however, of such a 
precarious nature that no one devotes himself to it. I have heard 
of people hunting the water carefully and getting nothing, and a 
tramp going down to the same part of the stream, and in ten 
minutes securing a fine pearl for which he secured 20s from a lady 
visitor to the locality. 
As to the number of pearls found in Dee it is difficult to 
arrive at any proper decision, as they are sold in so many places, 
and such numbers of people fish for them, and either mount them 
or give them to friends. One young man got £10 for a number he 
got one year fishing at odd times, and various parties near Bridge- 
of-Dee secure a few pounds each season. As to size and quality, Mr 
M‘Skimming of Kirkcudbright bought a very nice one, for which 
he gave £15, and it changed hands again for nearly double this 
sum. One of a dumb bell shape, of the size of a horse bean, as 
described to me, was sold for £10, and I shew you some lovely 
pearls, the property of Miss Bruce of Old Garroch, formerly of 
Slogarie. One of these is 21 grains in weight, round, and of a 
lovely colour, about the size of a wren’s egg. One of great size 
and purity was said to have been found on Doon, and was sold for 
£70, but I am sorry to say I could not trace it. On this lovely 
stream some fine pearls have been got. The difficulty, however, 
