the
stones lying in very shallow water are removed with the adhering
oysters to deeper water—over six feet. After three years the oysters
are taken out and the nuclei of the culture pearl inserted. This done,
they are spread over the sea bottom, about one to every square foot and
left undisturbed for four years. They are then taken out and opened and
both the culture pearls and whatever natural pearls there may be, are
harvested. At present, upwards of a quarter of a million oysters are
treated annually.
Experiments
are being made constantly, in the United States and Europe, to improve
upon the hollow glass bead lined with fish-scale but so far without
success. The finest of these imitate the natural pearl very well and if
finely mounted similar to the genuine, will deceive many while worn.
Closer observation will reveal the glassy shine of the surface and it
will be found under the loup to contain numerous small holes. The
specific gravity is also less.
One finds occasionally in lots, a mock-pearl which has been cut and polished from the
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