Mot ker-of- Pearl and its 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 67 tons to Singapore, chiefly 

 for transmission thence to the same destination. The 

 price now being got per ton is from ^^250 to £2'^o. 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, 



