OCR Text |
Show THE PEARLS O F THE ILLINOIS. Very little pearling was done on the Illinois previous to 1892, although some years oefore this date occasional pearl hunters made frequent trips and extended Investigations from ttmr to time over the greater part of the river. During the earlier period pearls alone were the object of the search, there being no particular de niand for the shells, and, besides, the pearler of that day had neither time nor inclination to save them; they were left after examination, usually in small piles along the shore as a waate product 11 a locality in which he was working did not show immediate imme-diate results be would moe farthei along, always hoping and expecting j to find a mussel bed which would produce a pearl of considerable value, I thus amply repaying him for his time) and outfit. The pearl hunters are In-! deed the pioneers of the mussel in-dOStry, in-dOStry, and In their extensive search for the elusive gemg they have usu-' nlly found not only the best mussel streams of the country, but the best hods and the most productive portions por-tions of the river as well. At the present time it imght be said that the pearls and slugs are of sec-1 Oirdary consideration, and when found are regarded by the mussel fishermen as BO much clear vrofit. The sale; ot slugs U generally sufficient to meet the actual running expenses of ; the camp, and a pearl is considered as so much extra. Beardstown, Hi., Is a center Tor pearl buyers, and during the shelling I season buyers are there from Paris, New York and other places, besides the local dealers. One man claimed to have bought 0,000 worth of j pearls and slug3 along this river In j twenty days. No particular work was done during dur-ing the present survey toward the study of the origin of pearls, how-( how-( vi r, a number of dlstomids and cvst-Forming cvst-Forming parasites' were observed in the meats of the mussels. The Illinois is B good river on which to carry on scientific pearl Investigations, as it is rich In pearl mussels and affords man retired places and favorable mussel beds especially suited to pearl Btudj Among the megt Interesting localities for observing pearl formation forma-tion and development may be mentioned men-tioned Peoria lake. Havana. Bath, Beardstown, Meredor.ia, Pearl and Hardin, at which places, a3 well as at many others, excellent pearls have rj found, and no d"iibt there are imam more there rt ro be taken. Department of Commerce Publication. |