About
3,000 tons of "washboard" shells, hitherto not purchased by the button
factories, were bought at about $5 per ton along the Illinois River,
where their quality was found to be better than usual.
The
exports of pearl shells to Europe were less in 1907 than 1906, since
the domestic manufacturers paid better prices for them. The decrease in
production was due to high waters during part of the season, a general
late season in the spring of 1907, and to the cessation of the buying
of shells at the beginning of the panic in the fall.
The
National Association of Pearl Button Manufacturers place the production
of pearl shells during 1906 at 48,000 tons, valued at $737,280.° A
total of 25,200,000 gross of pearl buttons were turned out during 1906
by factories in 17 different States.
The
United States Fish Commission has been engaged in an investigation of
the habits and life of the mussel clam. It is hoped that the
information collected on this subject will lead to passage of laws to
protect the mussel clams and to aid in their artificial propagation. At
the present rate of destruction of the mussels and of waste of pearl
shells, it will be but a few years before the mussels will be
practically exterminated.
Mr.
Frank Koeckeritz states that the pearl fisheries were very scattered in
1907. In the early part of the season the Wabash River was worked by a
large number of fishers. The Illinois River soon became prominent,
however, and attracted crowds of mussel diggers. There was greater
activity along the Mississippi River, the White and the Black rivers in
Arkansas, and the Cumberland River, than for some years.
There
was some pearl fishing in many other rivers in different parts of the
United States. Mr. Alfred Scholten reports a small output from the
Colorado River between Blufton and Tow, Tex.
Several
large pearls, valued at between $1,000 and $2,000, were reported during
1907. One of these was found near New Albany, Ind., in the Ohio River,
and was one-half an inch in diameter.6 It was slightly
flattened on one side and perfectly oval on the other. Another
pear-shaped pearl, weighing about 87 grains, was found near
Williamsport, Ind.c The owners expected to realize $2,000
for it. A very large pearl, weighing 165J grains, was found near
Dubuque, Iowa. It has been valued at between $2,000 and $6,000.
MEXICO.
According
to Consul W. D. Shaughnessy, of Aguascalientes, a Mexican company is
successfully cultivating pearls in the Gulf of Lower California.d It
is said a man named vives discovered that the pearl developed in about
two years' time, when the shell dropped it out. Accordingly, the
shellfish are protected from the time they are hatched and operted when
nearly two years old before the pearl has been lost.
o
A few notes upon the pearl button industry of America: Nat. Assoc.
Pearl Button Manufacturers U. S. of America. 6 Manuf. Jeweler,
September 5, 1907. cManuf. Jewreler, August 1,1907. d Daily Cons. Repts., March 30,1908.
