252	Pearls.
	been procured from a species of Pearl-mussel in­habiting the rivers of Florida. Crossing from the United States into Canada, we find ourselves in a country which has yielded fresh-water Pearls of considerable size and beauty. It appears that the Pearls occur more or less abundantly in most of the small streams in the Province of Quebec, especially in the country to the north of the City of Quebec, and also in the districts bordering on the lower part of the river St. Lawrence. Some fine Canadian Pearls, varying in weight from three to seventy grains, were exhibited at the Colonial Exhibiton of 1886, by a jeweller, of Quebec. The exhibitor tells us that being desirous of making himself practically acquainted with the occurrence of the Pearls, he took a trip through the chief Pearl-producing districts, in the month of August, 1885. This trip occupied three weeks, of which time seven­teen days were passed in kneeling and paddling in a bark canoe, and in portaging through a primitive region of very wild character. The streams which are richest in Pearl-mussels are but little known, except to the Indians and backwoodsmen, who take care to keep the localities as secret as possible. Mr. Seifert's exploring party "prosecuted the toilsome task of Pearl-fishing with the greatest perseverance, and after opening several thousand mussels, succeeded