NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 165 



The Ges-Sk2el, or Mufcle, differs a good deal from the former, oes-skxi. 

 being of a larger fize, and is not reckoned fit to be eaten ; but 

 they are only ufed, as fome of the aforefaid Shell-fifh of the 

 Cyfler kind, for baits. In thefe (hells they fometimes find pearls, 

 that are purer and more valuable than thofe taken out of the 

 Oyfter-fhells : but our right Pearl-mufcle is a third fort, and is 

 found with us only in rivers and frefh water. Thefe differ in 

 fhape from the Sea-mufcles, the fhell being almoft round, and 

 flatter and broader than that of the common Mufcle. They 

 referable them in colour, the outfide being black, and the infide 

 of a bright pearly blue. In moft parts of Norway, particularly 

 the weft fide, there are rivers and brooks where thefe fort of 

 Mufcles are found. The right of the pearl-fifhery belongs to the 

 , king, and is carried on at his Majefty's expence. In the dio- 

 cefe of Chriftianfand there are the following pearl-rivers, which 

 are reckoned the bell in Norway. 



d 



The river Gan, 



river Nserims, (. In the manor of Stavangers. 

 river Quafiims, 



The river Lille, in Lyngdahl,^ 



river, Undals, I In the manor of Lifter 



RoiTelands, a little rivulet; and r and Mandal. 



fomc other fniall brooks. 



The river Berge, and 7 T 1 r », , 



Baafelands, a little brook, } In the manor of Nedenss - 



The genuine pearls, which are annually taken about Midfummer in 

 thefe waters^, are the property of her majefty the queen alone, as one 

 of the regalia of the kingdom of Norway. There is a manager 

 or intendant to prefide over the pearl-fifhery : the perfon who 

 is entrufted with this orifice at prefent, is the honourable M. Paul 

 Baumann, who, at my requeft, has been fo obliging, as to com- 

 municate to me his obfervations on the Pearl-mufcle, and its pro- 

 perties : I fhall infert them in his own words, under the title of 

 Some Obfervations concerning the Pearl-mufcles, their Nature and 

 Properties. " The form and fhape of thefe Mufcles are well 

 known. As long as they are in the water the Fifh is ufually 

 almoft out of the (hell, much like a fnail, dragging its houfe 

 behind him : but notwithstanding the fhells are open while they 

 continue in the water, yet they lie in fuch a manner, that one 



Part II. U u can- 



