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THE PEARL
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Many
fine white pearls are found however, though they incline frequently to
a waxy luster and are often marred by chalky spots. Great quantities of
baroques, notably beautiful for color and orient, are found. Round
pearls with a china-like skin in many colors are also quite common. The
average size and quality is not equal to those of the Indian waters,
though it is much better than is generally credited, as the traders in
this country for some inexplicable reason have an idea that VenÂezuelan
pearls are necessarily poorer than others.
This
notion has probably been fostered among American buyers by the Parisian
dealers who at present well nigh control the output of these fisheries
and naturally fear the diversion to a neighboring market which now pays
a heavy toll to Paris on pearls taken from this continent. It is true
an unusually large percentage of cracked pearls is found among
Venezuelans, and they lose perceptibly in weight after being brought
from the fisheries the loss averaging fully one-eighth of one per
cent., nevertheless many pearls of the finest quality are taken from
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