nam
and Dr. Charles L. Metz, who procured over 60,000 pearls, nearly two
bushels, drilled and undrilled, undoubtedly of Unio origin, all of
them, however, decayed or much altered, and of no commercial value.
(See Illustration.) In 1884 these scientists examined the Marriott
Mound, where they found nearly 100 Unio shells, and among other objects
of special interest six canine teeth of bears, that were perforated by
a lateral hole near the edge at the point of greatest curvature of the
root, and by passing a cord through this, the tooth could be fastened
to any object or worn as an ornament. Two of these teeth had a hole
bored through near the end of the root on the side opposite the lateral
perforation, and the hole countersunk in order to receive a large
spherical pearl, about I inch in diameter. When the teeth were found,
the pearls were in place, although chalky from decay. Upward of 250
pearl beads were found, concerning which they say: " The pearl beads
found in the several positions mentioned are natural pearls, probably
obtained from the several species of Unios in the Ohio rivers. In size
they vary from 1/10 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter, and many are
spherical. They are neatly drilled, and the larger from opposite sides.
These pearls are now chalky and crumble on handling, but when fresh
they would have formed brilliant necklaces and pendants."1
One
of the most singular circumstances connected with the New Jersey "pearl
fever" was the discovery of several shells which proved that the local
savants had experimented on the pearl-bearing Unios by dropping
mother-of-pearl buttons inside the shell, hoping that the mussel would
cover them with its secretions. The specimens found had apparently been
experimented on over thirty years previous, a time when European
scientists were greatly interested in shells received from China,
containing small images of Buddha. These images had been moulded in tin
and placed between the mantle and the shell. The mussels were then
returned to their natural environment, and after several months the
layer of mother-of-pearl became of sufficient thickness, and the images
were removed.
1 Explorations in Ohio from the Eighteenth Report of the Peabody Museum (Cambridge, 1886), p. 449.
