Amber and the Amber Fisheries. 



471 



size, from Konigsberg, weighing respectively four and a 

 half and six pounds. In 1854 a bed of yellow amber of 

 considerable extent was discovered at Prague, in sinking 

 a well, and pieces weighing two and three pounds were 

 extracted. 



The trade in this article is annually increasing in im- 

 portance, and as a very large part of all the amber appear- 

 ing in the various markets of the world is supplied by the 

 province of Prussia, including the neighbouring district of 

 Memel, it may be interesting to give a short account of its 

 appearance in that part of Germany. 



Mr. Ward, the British vice-consul at Memel, in a recent 

 official report, furnishes some full details as to the trade. 



In the western portion of the province of Prussia amber 

 is found, not only on the seashore, but also in the moun- 

 tainous ranges of the interior. Excepting, however, in rare 

 cases of its appearance in so-called " nests," amber is only 

 to be met with in isolated pieces in the latter localities, so 

 that the profit arising from the amber diggings amongst 

 the hills is but a very moderate one, and may be estimated 

 at about double the amount paid by the proprietors for the 

 wages of the diggers. In East Prussia, however, and 

 especially in that part called the Samland, amber is more 

 abundant, and, during the prevalence of certain winds, is 

 frequently thrown upon the shore by the sea in large quan- 

 tities. It is collected there as well as fished for in the surf, 

 as also dug out of the sand hillocks running along the 

 seacoast. In these sand hillocks regular beds of amber 

 are found enclosed in a soil of blue clay, which is to be 

 met with at an average depth of about 100 feet, in a thick- 

 ness of 25 to 30 feet. It is stated that out of some 

 diggings established in those parts, 4500 lbs. of amber 

 were raised in the course of four months of the year 1869. 



