138

ery

of the He-method recommended to destroy it and separate it en- Clyde, and of Loch Ken in Galloway, where it is said of the Habitation of tirely froin the shell, is to boil it in water for a very great numbers of pearls are fished in dry summers, ma- bitation of Shells, &c. short time, and after allowing it to cool gradually, to ny of which sell from one shilling to one guinea. But Shells, &c.

Jay it in cold water till it is cleaned. By this process, the greatest pearl-fishery which has ever been establish137 Method of

the attachment between the shell and animal is de- ed in Scotland, of which there is any record, is that kiling the stroyed, and the latter, which has become hard and of the river Tay, about 30 years ago. The pearl. animal. contracted, is easily picked out from its covering. mussel is found in every part of this river, from its

The shell, after this treatment, is ready to be placed source in Loch Tay, to its junction with the sea. In
in the cabinet, or to be polished in the way we shall different parts of the river, but particularly in the vi.
presently describe, according to the state in which it cinity of Perth, we are informed, that not less than
is found, or the views of the collector.

11,000l. worth of pearls were sent to London between Pearl-fish- As the pearl has been held in high estimation in all the years 1761 and 1764. They were sold from 105..

ages of the world, and as it is an important object of to 1). 166. per ounce. About this time one pearl was
commerce in many parts of it, the history of the pearl found which weighed 33 grs. This fisbery, however,
fishery, or of those shell fish which produce the pearl, as well as the pearl-fishery in the other rivers of Scot-

connot fail to be interesting. 139

land, seems to be greatly exhausted, and very probain Britain. In different parts of Britain the pearl-fishery has bly, as it has been supposed, from the improvident

been carried on to a considerable extent ; and in some avarice of the undertakers, not allowing the animal to
places it has been reckoned of such value, that. go- arrive at that age which seems to be necessary for the
vernment have granted the right of fishing to indivi- production of pearl.
duals by patent. By a grant of this kind, Sir John But the pearl-fishery of the warmer climates, in dif-
Hawkins obtained the privilege of fishing for pearls in ferent places of the East Indies, in the gulf of Persia,
the river Irt in Cumberland ; and Buchan of Auch- and the Red sea, and particularly that which is annual-

140
macoy seems to have held, by a similar right, the sole ly carried on in the bay of Condatchy, in the island of in Ceylon.
privilege of the pearl fishery near the mouth of the ri. Ceylon, is by far the most extensive and most import-
ver Ythan in Aberdeenshire ; for it appears that this ant of any in the world. The latter, of which we have
grant was resumed by government in 1633, in the first given a detailed account in the description of CEYLON,
parliament of Charles J. In the same river, at the di- and to which we refer our readers, has been under the
stance of 10 miles from the sea, a successful fishery inspection of government since it fell into the bands of
of pearls has been frequently carried on; and a the British, as it was under that of the Portuguese and
few years ago, in the river Cluny in the same county, Dutch, its former masters. To the Dutch, it is said,
a Jew employed a number of people to collect the mus- while they were in possession of the island, this fishery
sels which contained them, and some large and valu. brought an annual tribute of 20,00ol.

To the ac-
able pearls were found. Some years ago, in the river count which bas been already given of this fishery, we
Teath in Perthshire, the pearls which were got brought may add the following, from the Asiatic Annual Re-
about 100l. sterling to those employed in searching for gister for the year 1800.
them, in the course of one season. It was observed, “ The person who farmed the pearl-fishery at Cey-.
that those mussels only which were crooked and distort. lon, last year, was a Tamu mercbant, who for the
ed, yielded pearls. The method which has been prac- privilege of fishing with more than the usual number
tised in this river for fishing the pearl mussel, is the of donies or boats, paid between two and three hun.
following. The fisherman provides himself with an dred thousand Porto Novo pagodas (D), a sum nearly
instrument formed of two iron plates or spoons, having double the usual rent. His excellency the honourable
something of the shape of the mussel. Each of these Mr North, by the last ships from Ceylon, has trans-
is attached to an elastic handle of the same metal, ter- mitted a very minute detail of the fishery in all its
minating in an open tube, which is fixed to the end of stages, some of which are truly singular and remark-
a long wooden handle. The concave sides of the plates able. It appears that the fear of sharks is the cause of
approach other, and are kept in close contact by the a great deal of interruption to the fishery, the divers
elasticity of the handles. With this instrument the fish- being extremely timid and superstitious ; every one of
erman enters the water, and directs his course to those them, even the most expert, entertain a dread of sharks,
places which he supposes are resorted to by the mus- and will not on any account descend until the conjuror
sels. These he discovers with his feet, and having has performed bis ceremonies. This prejudice is so
found one, he presses the instrument upon it, the plates deeply rooted in their minds, that the government was
or valves of which, in consequence of the elasticity of obliged to keep two such conjurors in their pay, to re-
the handles, separate, and then grasp it firmly. In move the fears of the divers. The manner of en-
this way he can detach it from the place to which it chanting consists of a number of prayers learned by
adheres, and bring it to the surface of the water. The

The heart, that nobody, probably not even the conjuror
pearl-mussel is a native of many other of the rivers of himself, understands, which he, standing on the shore,
Scotland, as of the Esk in Forfarshire, where a pearl continues muttering and grumbling from sunrise until
was found of the size of a pistol bullet, and sold for 4l the boats return. During this period, they are oblia
sterling; of the Devon in Clackmannanshire, the ged to abstain from food and sleep, otherwise their

prayers.

a

(D.) Perhaps near 100,000l. sterling. The pagoda is from 79. to 8s. 6d. sterling.

a

2

of the Ha. prayers would be of no avail; they are, however, al- appearance, as they are found when living at sea ; but of the Habitation of lowed to drink, which privilege they indulge in a high others who make collections, bate the disagreeable bitation of Shells, &c. degree, and are frequently so giddy as to be rendered outsides, and will have all such polished. It would be Sbells, &c.

very unfit for devotion. Some of these conjurors ac. very advisable, however, for both kinds of collectors to
company the divers in their boats, which pleases them have the same shells in different specimens both rougla
very much, as they have their protectors near at hand. and polished: the naturalist would by this means, be.
Nevertheless. I was told, said Mr North, that in one sides knowing the outside of the shell, be better ac-
of the preceding fisheries, a diver lost his leg by a quainted with its internal characters than he otherwise
shark; and when the head conjuror was called to an could be ; while those who wish to have them polished,
account for the accident, he replied, that an old witch might compare the beauties of the shell, in its wrought
had just come from the coast, who, from envy and state, to its coarse appearance as nature gives it. How
malice, had caused this disaster by a counter-conjura- many elegancies in tbis part of the creation must be
tion, which made fruitless his skill, and which he was wbolly lost to us, if it were not for the assistance of an
informed of too late ; but he afterwards shewed his art of this kind ! Many shells in their native state are
süperiority, by enchanting the sharks so effectually, like rough diamonds; and we can form no just idea of
that, though they appeared to most of the divers, they their beauties till they have been polished and wrought
were unable to open their months. During my stay, into form. The safest way of removing the epidermis
continues Mr Nortl, at Condatchy, no accident of or outer skin from shells, is by a simple process dis-
this kind happened. If a shark is seen, the divers in- covered by our friend William Nicol Esq. Lecturer on
etantly make a signal, which on perceiving all the Natural Philosophy. The shell from which the epi-
boats return immediately. A diver who trod upon a dermis is wished to be removed, should be put into a
hammer oyster, and was somewhat wounded, thought vessel of water, with a quantity of quicklime, and boiled
he was bit by a shark; consequently made the usual for some time. The skin of the common muscle re-
signal, which caused all the boats to return; for which quires only three hours boiling, while that of the mya
mistake he was afterwards punished. The largest and margaritifera, or river mya, requires from twelve to
most perfect pearl taken last season, was about the size fourteen hours. When the shells bave boiled the pro-
of a small pistol bullet."

per time, they should be washed over with diluted mu

riatic acid, when the skin may be easily removed by Sect. III. Of the Methods of Polishing Shells. rubbing it off with the fingers.

Though the art of polishing sbells is a very valuable
The art of polishing shells has but lately reached its one, yet it is very dangerous to the shells ; for without
present state of perfection ; and as the admiration of the utmost care, the means used to polish and beautify
sea shells has become so general, it may be expected a shell often wholly destroy it. When a shell is to be

a
that we should give some instructions in the means of polished, the first thing to be examined, is whether it
adding to their natural beauty,

have naturally a smooth surface, or be covered with tu-
Among the immense variety of shells with which we bercles and prominences.
are acquainted, some are taken up out of the sea, or A shell which has a smooth surface, and a natural With lea.
found on its shores, in all their perfection and beauty; doll polish, need only be rubbed with the band, or with ther.
their colours being all disposed by nature upon the sur- a piece of chamoy leather, with some tripoli, or fine
face, and their natural polish superior to any thing that rotten stone, and it will become of a perfectly bright and
art could give. Where nature is in herself thus per- fine polish. Emery is not to be used on this occasion,
fect, it were madness to attempt to add any thing to because it wears away too much of the shell. This
her charms: but in others, where the beauties are la- operation requires the band of an experienced person,
tent and covered with a coarser outer skin, art is to be that knows how superhcial the work must be, and where
called in; and the outer veil being taken off, all the he is to stop; for in many of these shells the lines are
interval beauties appear.

only on the surface, and the wearing away ever so little Anong the shells which are found naturally polished of the shell defaces them. A shell that is rough, foul, employed. are the porcelains, or cowries; the cassanders; the do- and crusty, or covered with a tartareous coat, must be

lia, or conchæ globosæ, or tuns; some buccina, the vo- left a whole day steeping in hot water : when it has im-
Jutes and the cylinders, or olives, or, as they are gene. bibed a large quantity of this, it is to be rubbed with
rally though improperly called, the rhombi; excepting rough emery on a stick, or with the blade of a knife,
only two or three, as the tiara, the plumb, and the in order to get off the coat. We have found different
hutter-tub rhombus, where there is an unpromising kinds of engraving instruments, of much service in re-
film on the surface, biding a very great share of beau. moving the crust and extraneous matter from shells,
ty within. Though the generality of the shells of particularly the parasitic species of shells which ad-
these genera are taken out of the sea in all their beau- here to them, such as serpulæ and balanx. If done
ty, and in their utmost natural polish, there are seve- with caution, it will be found by far the best mode ;
ral other genera, in which all or most of the species and indeed, where there are spines, they cannot be
are taken up naturally rough and foul, and covered removed by any other means, as, by applying acids, they
with an epidermis, or coarse outer skin, which is in are often completely destroyed. After this, it may be
many rough and downy or hairy. The tellinæ, the dipped in diluted aquafortis, spirit of salt, or any other
mussels, the cochleæ, and many others, are of this acid; and after remaining a few moments in it, be again
kind. The more nice collectors, as naturalists, insist plunged into common rater. This will add greatly to
upon having all their shells in their native and genuine the speed of the work. After this it is to be well

rubbed

142

141 Mlethods

2