Abalone.—Name given on the California coast and in
the United States to the Haliotis. Ball-Pearl.—Name given to round pearls by pearlers at
the inland fisheries of the United States. Baroque.—A pearly formation of irregular shape. Base.—A basic price, subject to the square of the pearl's
weight. Baskets.—Brass sieves used in India for separating
pearls of different sizes. Black-Shell.—Pearl oyster shells of which the nacreous
lining has a black edge. Blister.—A piece of the mother-of-pearl lining of a
g
earl-oyster shell, raised above the surface like a lister.
Bluebacks.—Shell of a variety of Haliotis.
Blue-Pearls.—Dark, slaty blue-white pearls, principally from the Mexican coast.
Bombay Pearls.—Fine pearls from the Arabian and Red Seas, so named because marketed through that city.
Button Pearls.—Shaped like a dome, high or low, rising from a plane and called "high buttons," "buttons" or "low buttons," accordingly.
Clammer.—One who fishes for mussels by dredging for the shells principally.
Dead Pearls,—Pearls with a chalky or waxy skin having little or no luster.
Dress.—Diving apparatus consisting of a one piece dress from the neck down, corselet, helmet, air-pipes and life-line.
Drop-Pearl.—Ovoid, or obovoid, not necessarily of perfect shape.
Drilled Pearls.—Pearls
with one hole for setting on peg, or quite through the centre for
stringing. Chinese drill two or three small holes half way between
circumference and bottom, for holding-wires,
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