SCOTTISH PEARL FISHERIES

Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 2

SCOTTISH PEARL FISHERIES

A THIRTY-TB-ONE CHANGE

[Written by Geobge Cecil, for the ‘ Evening Star.’]

One occasionally hears of Scottish pearls; they have figured in northern romances for many years. Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have been partial to them, while certain of the Macdonald family have it that Flora of that ilk, a really “ sonsie ” lass, when wooed by “ Bonnie Prince Charlie,” was not averse to a gift of Tayside pearls set in chaplet form. Serious members of the Stuart clan profess to advance irrefutable evidence that the “ bonnie ” one found the pearls of his native land very useful when pursuing ladies with attentions which were more ardent than honourable. The Scottish pearl, in short, if not particularly valuable, ever has been much appreciated in Scotland, particulai'ly as an economical gift.

Meanwhile, little is known of it in other countries. So, to enlighten the reader: MUCH LABOUR—LITTLE RETURN.

The industry, such as it is, flourishes on the East Coast of Scotland, the oysters being found at the mouths of the rivers and some miles inland. The fiisherman provides himself _ with an oblong box, the bottom of which is made of. glass. Pushing it down to the river bed, he is enabled to see the shells, a long, pronged stick doing the rest. The oysters are placed in a bag, and, when this is full, the wader comes ashore to examine his treasures. If one shell in thirty produces a pearl, the merchant considers himself lucky; if 10 per cent, of the haul yield pearls worth a pound apiece, he is thought to be the most fortunate amongst men. It thus will be seen that a considerable amount of labour brings little return. The work, however, is suited to the persevering Scotch temperament, and, beyond the cost of a pair of waders, there are no working expenses to consider. Sometimes the river is “ fished ” by a gang, each man covering a given stretch of water. Diving, too, enters into the scheme of things; the deep holes occasionally repay the diver for his trouble. On the other hand, he may repeatedly dive for half an hour, to risk a chill, and, perhaps worse, to bring nothing but useless shells to the surface. The diver then finds consolation in whisky, of which he drinks an almost incredible amount. He takes it medicinally. THOSE MOTTLED PEARLS. The pearls almost invariably are sold to the local jeweller, who, after collecting a bag of them, tries his luck with an Edinburgh, or Glasgow, dealer. Unfortunately, very few bring him more than a few shillings each, for, if comparatively big prices have been realised during the past few decades, only upon very rare occasions has the speculation prospered. It is doubtful if one pearl in a hundred enriches the intermediary with a five-pound note. A vast percentage of the oysters contain mottled pearls, which_ are absolutely useless. So common, in fact, are they that the children do not consider them worth the trouble of making into dolls’ necklaces. And those which are streaked also have to be discarded. Caledonia’s curses are then loud and deep. _ * It will be admitted that the Scottish pearl-fishing industry scarcely is a quick cut to fortune. Indeed, no man in regular work gives his time to it.