Another
necklace shown at the St. Louis World's Fair, was of American
fresh-water pearls from the rivers of Arkansas. The total weight of
these pearls, sixteen in number, was 861-5/8 grains, an average of
61-1/2 grains for each pearl. Of these one drop pearl weighed 77 grains,
and two others each 65-1/2 grains. A round pearl of 70 grains completed
the adornment of the pendant. The circlet consisted of ten round pearls
alternating with precious stones. The central pearl weighed 98-1/2
grains and on each side were two of 61 grains, then two of 56 grains,
two of 54-7/8, and two of 48 grains, one of 45-3/8 grains being at the
back of the necklace.
In
the early days of pearl hunting in American streams, the fishermen had
little idea of their value, and sold choice gems for insignificant
sums. In 1887, a fisherman on Rock River, Illinois, found a 40-grain
pearl which he carried in his pocket for several months. Showing it
one day in Davenport, he was offered $20 for it. He quickly accepted
the offer, and on his return home told his friends about "the sucker
who gave $20 for the shell slug." At present this "shell slug" is worth
more than one hundred times that amount. Numerous instances of a
similar nature occurred until the average fisherman lost all confidence
in his judgment as to the values, and extravagant ideas prevailed
regarding even almost worthless nacreous concretions. Thus, when a
choice pearl is found, an exorbitant price is set upon it and the
seller feels for the market value by repeated dickerings with several
buyers. And unless one is an expert, he is quite likely to pay two or
three times as much for a pearl at the river bank as in a metropolitan
market. Some of the fishermen collect everything in the shape of
nacreous concretions, and very often pearl buyers in New York and
elsewhere receive packages which are not worth the postage ; in many
other packages nine tenths of the lot is worthless; and the practical
joker and the swindler have solicited bids on bright marbles, rounded
pieces of pearl shell, and even sugar-coated pills.
While
many pearls of fine luster and beautiful and regular form have been
derived from these fisheries, it occasionally happens, in the case of
pearls consigned to the city pearl dealer, that cracks, breaks or
marks, which might detract from their value, are closed or removed,
either by means of water or oil, the pearls having been kept in
