WORKING OF IVORY 247 



As a nerve runs through the centre of the entire length 

 of a tusk, it is imperative that this be always in the centre 

 of the billiard ball. The purer, finer balls are those in 

 which the outer crust or bark of the tusk can be entirely 

 removed before the ball is turned; when this cannot be 

 done and discoloured spots or stripes are present the ball will 

 be worth but $9, while a clear ball will command a price of 

 $16. Of the so-called "check balls" there are three grades, 

 "A," "B," and "C." Grade "A" with but a single check 

 sells for $10 or $12; Grade "B," with five or six checks, for 

 $9, and a ball of Grade " C, " with six to twelve checks, will 

 not bring more than $6. 



Formerly the small ends of the tusks were sold for har- 

 ness trimmings, but these are now made of celluloid, and 

 the "tips" have been of late sent to Hamburg, Germany, 

 for distribution throughout the Orient. 



Previous to January, 1914, before the new tariff came 

 into force, billiard-ball manufacturers imported the entire 

 tusk, but as the duty is now 20 per cent, and the "hollow 

 ends," as they are termed, represent from 20 per cent, to 

 30 per cent, of a tusk, or even more, these are now cut off 

 abroad and only the compact parts, measuring from 2J 

 to 4 in. in diameter, are imported. The large fine cen- 

 tres are worth $3.50 a pound, whereas the "hollow ends" 

 are worth little more than $2 or $3 a pound, and tips may 

 sell for only $1 a pound. 



Formerly only tusks of from 2^ to 3 in. in diameter 

 were freely used, but now, owing to the scarcity of this 

 "ball material," tusks up to 3 J in. and 4 in. are used. 

 This entails greater cost as the two rings resulting from 

 the cutting of each ball are naturally larger and much 

 heavier, and have to be returned to India and other East- 

 ern countries to be worked up into bangles and the smaller 

 ornaments of various kinds. The difference in waste 



