Ecuador
but of late years fishing has not proved remunerative and it is now
carried on in a desultory way only. They are found also on the western
coast of Nicaragua.
The
Mexican shells known as Panama shell or bullock shell have a dark,
dirty, greenish rim and are much less valuable than the white or black
shell. Similarly, dark, slaty-colored pearls are known as Panamas
because many pearls taken on this coast are of that character. This
color tendency however often results more advantageously as many of the
pearls are sufficiently dark to be classed as fancy and some beautiful
black and red pearls are found in these waters. Panama pearls also have
the reputation of being softer than others. There are pearl oysters
also on the Peruvian coast but this section has not yet been fished.
On
the Atlantic side of America pearl oysters are abundant in the Gulf of
Campeche and on the shoals about the islands and shores of Venezuela.
The shells of Central America are similar to the Panamas only more
yellow, while those of Venezuela are small and valueless. Between the
east coast of America and the Red
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