Pearls are glistening, solid object created within the tissue of a living mollusc or other shelled animals. Pearls of the highest quality are categorised as gemstones and considered to be objects of beauty in many cultures. This vintage book explores the world of pearls and pearl farming, giving an outline of its history from ancient times to the developments of modern pearling life. Contents include: "Pearl-culture and Pearl-faming", "Historical", "Ancient Ideas of the Origin and Virtues of Pearls", "Pearl-bearers", "Mother-of-Pearl Shell", "The Origin and Formation of Pearls", "The North-West Australian Fishery", "The Torres Straights Fishery", "Pearling Life at the Present Day", "Cevlon Pearl Fisheries", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with the original text and artwork.