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AMERICAN PEARLS
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277
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leave
their mills, farmers their crops, and merchants their stores, and with
the members of their families join in searching for the gems. The
mussels are secured by whatever means is most convenient. If valuable
finds continue, thousands and thousands of mollusks are destroyed in
the search, and when the efforts begin to prove futile the
excitement subsides almost as quickly as it began. In very many
localities the industry has run the whole gamut of the feverish
excitement of its beginning, the humor and romance of its existence,
and the pathos of its ending.
If
disturbed labor conditions at the height of the excitement were the
only disagreeable attendant, these pearling furors could be viewed more
favorably. But, unfortunately, in many localities, especially in shoal
waters of restricted area, the fishery has been prosecuted so
vigorously that it appears probable the resources will be very
materially impoverished if not ruined in a few years, unless prompt
and decisive protective measures are adopted. In some waters the crowds
engaged in the search have removed practically every mussel without
regard not only to protecting the immature mussels, but even to the
necessity for preserving breeding mollusks. Many ponds and small river
basins have been so denuded that not for many years, if ever, can they
recover their former wealth of pearl-bearers.
This
state of affairs has not come about without opposition on the part of
those interested in the industry and the general welfare of the
localities. Intelligent and well-directed efforts have been made to
provide a system of regulations for protecting the mussels so that the
maximum yield of pearls may be secured. But this is a very difficult
problem to deal with. It involves not only the methods of fishery, but
the question of sewage disposal by the cities and the large factories,
through which great quantities of mussels have been destroyed.
Undoubtedly
it will be difficult to devise regulations that will be satisfactory
alike to the fishermen, the button manufacturers and the farmers. The
great desideratum in the pearl fisheries—of the seas as well as in the
fresh-water streams—is a restriction of the gathering to such mollusks
and to such seasons and periods of years as produce the largest results
with the least injury to the permanency of the resources.
It
is generally agreed that the young or immature mollusks should be
protected ; but it is not easy to determine what is an immature Unio,
as some species never grow large. Likewise, the beds should not be
disturbed when the mollusks are loaded with young, but it is difficult
to select particular months which would be better for close season than
any others. The propositions which seem to be most actively advocated
impose restrictions on the number and size of the mussels to be
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