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UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO
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229
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Efforts
to make the river pearl-mussel available in another way met with better
success. In 1850, Moritz Schmerler conÂceived the idea of making small
fancy articles of the shells themselves, and succeeded so well that the
Government allowed him to take from the royal beds the shells he needed
for his manufacturing business. Large numbers of pearl-shell
pocket-books and hand-satchels have been made since then. The almost
faultless white and reddish tinted " rose-pearl mussels" are specially
prized for this purpose, as the material may be cut so thin that a
photograph pasted on the inside can be seen through the shell,
conveying the appearance of being produced on the shell itself. Other
manufacturers engaged in the business as soon as its success became
apparent, and many hundred thousands of pearl-mussels are now annually
used at Adorf, where the business is chiefly carried on. The principal
sources of supply are brooks in Bavaria and Bohemia that are owned by
private persons.
Some
of the earliest American pearls, that were found, came from near
Waynesville, Ohio, $3,000 worth being collected in that vicinity during
the pearl excitement of 1878. At that time, Israel H. Harris, of
Waynesville, began what has since become one of the finest and best
known collections of Unio pearls in this country, purchasing, during
many years, every specimen of value that he could find in that part of
the State. Among his pearls was one button-shaped on the back and
weighing 38 grains, also several almost transparent pink ones, and an
interesting specimen showing where a pearl had grown almost entirely
through the Unio. His collection contained more than 2,000 pearls,
weighing over 2,000 grains, and is in all probability the last
collection that will be made from that disÂtrict. It was exhibited in
the jewelry department at the World's Fair held in Paris during 1889.
Large
and valuable Unio pearls have been obtained in New Jersey. In 1857 a
pearl of fine lustre, weighing 93 grains, was found at Notch Brook,
near Paterson. It became known as the " Queen Pearl," and was sold by
Tiffany & Co. to the Empress Eugenie of France for $2,500 ; it is
to-day worth four times that amount. (See Colored Plate No. 8.) The
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