Mother-of -Pearl and Us Uses. 397 



west coast, between the fifteenth and twenty-fifth parallels 

 of south latitude. Less than seven years ago this trade did 

 not exist, but within the last three years it has gone on in- 

 creasing in importance, till in 1876 240 tons of shells were 

 exported to London and 6^ tons to Singapore, chiefly 

 for transmission thence to the same destination. The 

 price now being got per ton is from .£^250 to £2,^0. The 

 trade is chiefly supported by the few squatters resident on 

 the north-western coast, or by small capitalists, who proceed 

 in the proper season, in small craft of from 40 to 80 tons, 

 to the coast where the shells are found ; and there engage 

 Malay, Japanese, or Australian natives as divers at almost 

 nominal wages. Last season was a prosperous one, and 

 the trade promises to be of very great importance. 



Mother-of-pearl shells of a fine quality now form a 

 large article of export from Western Australia. There 

 have been some recent imports also from Gambia, but I do 

 not believe this shell is met with on the West African coast. 



In China there is a good demand for mother-of-pearl 

 shells. They are used for carving and inlaying, and are 

 also manufactured into beads, card-counters or " fish " (as 

 they are often termed; from the shape into which they are 

 cut), spoons, etc. ; but they do not seem to be used there 

 for buttons, as in Europe. Three kinds of beads are made 

 in China from mother-of-pearl, one perfectly round, the 

 second not quite round, and the third cut or figured. The 

 card-counters are made in various shapes, round, oval, and 

 oblong, with ornamental figures and engravings on them. 

 They are put up for sale in sets of 140 pieces. A few 

 years ago a set of very elaborately carved or engraved 

 mother-of-pearl shells were sent from China, intended for 

 dessert plates ; but, although elegant in the workmanship 

 and labour bestowed on the carving, and most curious. 



