in
another waxy white, and in one a cream white. It also contained a
button-shaped pearl weighing thirty-eight grains and several pink ones
almost translucent. A pink pearl of eight grains was admired by all who
saw it ; by reflected light this had the color and translucency of a
drop of molten silver. Many of the pink pearls found in the Little
Miami and its tributaries were of the most beautiful rose-petal pink ;
pearls of this peculiar color have never been found in any other waters.
From
Ohio the industry gradually extended westward and southward, and new
fields were developed, pearls to the value of about ' $10,000 annually
coming on the market from such widely separated States as Vermont,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Washington, etc. However, little
general interest was taken in fresh-water pearls, and few choice ones
were found until the magnificent resources of the upper Mississippi
Valley were discovered. Owing to the ease with which the mollusks may
be collected by wading, it was in the relatively shallow tributaries
that the fishery first developed, rather than in the deep channels of
the main stream and of the large affluents.
The
first region in the Mississippi Valley to attract attention was
southwestern Wisconsin. Early in the summer of 1889, many beautiful
pearls were found in Pecatonica River, a tributary of Rock River, which
in turn empties into the Mississippi. Within three months, $10,000
worth of gems were sent from this region to New York City alone,
including one worth $500, which was a very considerable sum for a
fresh-water pearl at that time. The interest quickly spread to
neighboring waters, and within a short time pearls were found also in
Sugar River, in Apple River, in Rock River, in Wisconsin River, and in
the Mississippi in the vicinity of Prairie du Chien. The fact that
little experience and no capital was required for the business drew
large numbers of persons to the newly-found Klondike ; and the finds
were so numerous and of such high quality that about $300,000 worth of
pearls were collected before the end of 1891, greatly exceeding all
records for fresh waters.
The
Wisconsin pearls are remarkable for their beauty, luster, and
diversified coloring, and some lovely shades of pink, purple, and
especially metallic green have been found. Several of them have
weighed in excess of fifty grains each, and some individual values ran
well into four figures. One shipment made from Sugar River to London in
September, 1890, contained ninety-three pearls, weighing from four to
twenty-eight grains each, for which £11,700 was received in payment.
In the limits of one county in the following year, pearls to the value
of nearly $100,000 were secured.
Shortly following the outbreak of pearling in Wisconsin came the
