414 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the value of white, and that a 20-grain pearl is worth five times one of 10 grains. 
Three papers (Arkansas, New York, and Tennessee) state that one-eighth inch in 
diameter is about the lowest limit for salable pearls. 
As to quality, several answers affirm that (of course) only the pearls that are 
“clear” or “brilliant” have any market value. 
In color, the responses vary a good deal, and it is difficult to derive any general 
agreement, from the fact that while several mention two or three colors as especially 
prized, only a few specify which of them is the most valued. Of the 33 papers that 
report, 10 specify pink as either first, or among the first, in estimation ; 4 refer to red, 
2 as the most valued; 6 to black, 3 rating it as the best, and 4 to yellow or gold color; 
while, singularly enough, another paper (Tennessee) states particularly that there is 
no sale for yellow or black; 5 refer to blue, 2 of them rating this color as first and 2 
as second, with pink first. Other colors especially named are lavender (Wisconsin), 
purple, steel-gray, white, and peacock green (Wisconsin). 
Evidently the prevalence of certain species in certain districts, the accidents of 
pearl discovery here or there, and a variety of local and temporary conditions, must 
enter into such estimates, and would doubtless yield different results in different 
years or series of years. 
Question 16, as to the “markets for pearls,” was answered in 98 papers, the rest 
being indefinite or not responding at all. Out of these, 92 specify New York, 43 
mentioning no other, and 47 adding one or several more. Of other places, Chicago 
comes next, being specified in 16 papers (Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Alabama, and 
Texas); then Philadelphia in 14 (one New York and the rest Tennessee); and next 
Cincinnati in 10 (Tennessee 8 and Texas 2); Milwaukee is reported in 8 (Illinois, Iowa, 
Kansas, Wisconsin) ; Nashville in 5 (Kentucky and Tennessee) ; St. Louis in 4 (Arkansas 
and Tennessee, each 2) ; and Louisville in 3 (Tennessee). Two papers mention Boston 
(Iowa and Tennessee); 2 Atlanta, 2 Carthage, and 2 Smithville (all Tennessee), and 
1 each the following places: Washington (New York); Memphis, Knoxville, Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn.; Elgin, 111.; Asheville, N. C.; and Jersey City, N. J. (all Tennessee). 
Several make general statements as to “any large city,” or include London, Paris, 
etc., from merely public repute. Several specify firms or dealers by name, in New 
York, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, etc. A Texas paper reports some pearls as sold in 
“Old Mexico.” 
Question 17, as to the prices obtained for pearls, has been answered more or less 
in 86 papers. Of these, 18 are uncertain or indefinite, merely saying that prices vary 
greatly according to size and quality, etc. The remaining 67 give figures which, 
however, are extremely diverse and can hardly be analyzed or tabulated with any 
definite result. This condition arises partly from the different methods of stating the 
values. Some give simply maximum and minimum prices, obtained or reported, with- 
out specifying size, color, or quality; others give prices for only certain kinds and 
sizes, and others again report the values by weight. Some also include the very small 
pearls, and others confine their account evidently to those that are marketable singly. 
From this varied mass of data only a few general statements can be deduced. 
Tennessee and Wisconsin are the only States that report any very high prices, 
save in a few cases from Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, and Iowa. The small pearls — 
those less than a tenth of an inch — are sold in lots for a few cents apiece. The Florida 
paper reports selling 16, of one eighth of an inch, for $5, an average value of a little 
over 30 cents ; a Maryland paper mentions a brilliant one of the same size as bring- 
