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THE BOOK OF THE PEARL
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its
tributary the Black River, which has proved to be the richest pearling
region in America. The industry centered at Black Rock, more tKan a
thousand persons fishing within twenty miles of that place. It is
estimated that within three years following the development of this
fishery, this State yielded pearls to the value of more than $500,000.
When
the Arkansas fishery was at its height, it was reported that ten
thousand persons were employed therein. The fishermen were from nearly
every class and condition in the State. Women were not absent; even
children participated in the industry, and some proved more fortunate
than the older hunters. It was not uncommon to see several hundred
persons congregated at one bar or in one stretch of the river, all
intent on making a fortune, and all occupied in fishing or in opening
the shells. So complete was the absorption of the people in this
pursuit, and so many of the farm-hands were occupied in the eager
search for anticipated fortunes, that the local papers reported much
apprehension and difficulty in harvesting the cotton and other crops.
Within
the main channel of the Mississippi, the relative scarcity of pearls in
the Unios, and the greater preparation required for collecting the
mollusks in the deep waters, retarded the fishery until the
establishment of .button manufacture afforded a market for the shells,
this originating in 1891. The industry developed rapidly, and for
several years has consumed about 35,000 tons of shells annually,
obtained principally in the Mississippi between Quincy and La Crosse,
and to a much less extent in other streams in this valley. This is more
than twice the total product of mother-of-pearl shell in all parts of
the world. However, the value per ton is very much less than that of
the best grade of mother-of-pearl ; that from Australia, for instance,
commonly selling for $1200 per ton, whereas the Mississippi shell
usually sells for less than $20, although the very choicest may bring
upward of $50 per ton.
The
gathering of shells for manufacture has extended to many of the large
tributaries of the Mississippi, especially the Arkansas, the White, the
St. Francis, the Ohio and the Illinois rivers, and this industry has
added largely to the pearl yield in these waters.
In
the last three years, the scenes of greatest activity have been the
Wabash River and its tributaries, where shell-collecting developed in
1903, and the Illinois River, where the industry was of little
importance previous to 1906. On the Wabash, camps were established at
almost every town, from the mouth up to St. Francis, Illinois, and
about one thousand persons found employment. Some of the most beautiful
American gems have come from this river. They are usually silvery white
in color and of the sweetest luster. A single
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