in
color and of fair luster, also odd-shaped pieces like blisters matched
and joined at the edges. The greens have a bronze appearance and the
reds and pinks are often iridescent. Quite a number of good "peelers"
are found among them. These are pearly formations which can be improved
by taking off one or more of the outer skins.
Pearl-fishing,
principally by Greeks, has been carried on about the west and south
coast of Haiti, but lately the government has granted a concession to
four of its citizens covering nine years with the privilege of renewal
at the end of that period. This will prohibit all others from fishing
unless they rent the privilege from the concessionaires.
To
the south of the Philippines, pearl-fisheries were worked by the
natives before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the industry is still
carried on, chiefly by antiquated methods. The coasts of the Sulu
islands, at Jolo and elsewhere and about the island of Mindanao, have
yielded many fine pearls and continue to do so. The shells from these
waters furnish very fine mother-of-pearl.
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