New Pearl Supply.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 9 December 1903, Page 4

New Pearl Supply.

An exceedingly interesting communication was miaide to the French Academie des Science on Oct. li.». when M. Raphael Dubois, a professor attached to the University of Lyons, informed that learned body that he had found a nnvams of acclimatising the pearl oyster, and reproducing pearls on the coast of France. Before the asswnbl-ud scientists M. Dubois exhibited several living specimens of the genuine pearl oyster ■cultivated in the Mediterranean. The i>earls shown by the professor were of the species known as Alar, giaritisera Vulgaris (Jameson) which is I'ou'iKl in Ceylon' waters, in the Persian Cinil", and elsewhere. It is also found on the coast of Tunis ; but while the proportion of pearls found there is \only one from 1200 to 1500 oysters, M, Dubois has succeeded in 'obtaining the remarkable result of one in ten. The professor's pearls are of a very small variety, hut 'he is hopeful that in time he will be able to obtain specimens of a larger size. The importance of tins -discovery at the present moment when pearls are so much in vogue, ban hardly be over-estimated. One of the pearls stolen from the Marquis of Anglesey lately was valued at over £IO,OOO ; and it was remarked that during her recent visit to Paris the Queen of Italy showed a marked preference for pearls. It is, of course, possible to manufacture artificial pearl, but these soon lose their lustre, whereas the twirls shown by Professor Dubois are genuine and of fine quality.