180 THE BOOK OF THE PEARL
Being
required to work continuously, both winter and summer, he fell ill and
died, and as no one else wished to pursue the occupation, the fishery
ceased.1
In
many of the Norwegian brooks, pearl fishing has been carried on for two
or three centuries, and often with satisfactory results. It appears
from ordinances dated November ίο, 1691, May 14, 1707, and May 28,
1718, that the fisheries were under special supervision as a royal
prerogative of the queen of Denmark.2 Jahn notes that in
1719 and in 1722, Saxon pearl fishermen were sent for. In 1734 Charles
VI of Denmark requested the elector of Saxony to send one of the pearl
fishermen of Vogtland to examine the brooks of Norway in reference to
the pearl resources, and to determine the practicability of
establishing fisheries there. In response to this request, C. H.
Schmerler was sent to Copenhagen and thence to Christiania, where he
began an investigation of the Norwegian waters, the governor himself
attending at the beginning of the work. So great was the estimation of
its importance, that Schmerler was soon afterward received in audience
by the king and queen of united Denmark and Norway at Frederiks-borg
palace near Copenhagen, and was awarded a gift of one hundred ducats
and a life-pension.3
In
1751, according to Pontoppidan, Bishop of Bergen, the Norwegian pearl
fisheries were placed under the jurisdiction of the diocese of
Christiansand. Among the principal pearling regions at that time were
the Gon, Närim and Quasim rivers in the Stavanger district or amt; the
Undol, Rosseland and other brooks in the Lister and Mandai province ;
and several streams in the district of Nadenäs.4
The
returns from the Norwegian fisheries gradually decreased. After 1768
the rights were leased, and the revenue therefrom was paid into the
royal treasury. Owing to small returns, this source of revenue received
less and less attention, and about a century ago it was altogether
neglected, although from time to time choice finds were made. Due to
unusually low water in 1841, a number of valuable pearls were found
near Jedderen in the province of Christiansand, some selling as high as
$300 each ; several of these were shown at the London Industrial
Exhibition by the diocese of Christiania.
The pearl fisheries of Sweden were noted, nearly four centuries ago, by Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Upsala.5 The gems were
'Holberg, "Danmarks Riges Historie," p. 175; and Von Hessling, "Die Perlen-
Reicharot edition, 1743, Vol. II, p. 632. muscheln," p. 189.
2Thaaruys, "Versuch einer Statistik der 'Pontoppidan, "Versuch einer natürlichen
dänischen Monarchie," Copenhagen, 1795, Historie von Norwegen," Copenhagen, 1754,
Pt. I, p. 416.
Vol. II, p. 309.
"Jahn, "Voigtländische Perlenfischerei," ° Olaus Magnus, "Historia de gentibus sep-
tentrionalibus," Antwerp, 1562, c. 6, p. 192.
