That's not just robbery, but silly robbery, I would think: maybe stressed mussels produce more pearls... but still... what could those fellows hope to obtain from 130 mussels? Jail sounds more likely (un-likely such as is) then a single notable pearl.

Any idea how many pearls might still be in the wild in such a small population of relatively young mussels beds? (assuming they are 'young', since the beds only just recovered from near-wipe out)

Someone should inform those bastards to fish where both they, and the local mussels stand a chance

[Sueki]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Someone should inform those bastards to fish where both they, and the local mussels stand a chance

Well, they've probably got away with the former, and it's plain they don't give a jot about the latter.

However, with all the bad vibes being sent their way, the scum will surely get what's coming to them.

Hopefully there were no pearls at all in those mussels and the poor fishing is making news in the right circles already.... Darn stuff.

It is easy to wish that everything having to do with pearls is fun, good life, happiness and romance, but...

Here's more info:

"Only two Scots jewellers are licensed to sell freshwater pearls and they can only trade in pearls collected before the ban.

John Lochtie, manager of one of the licensed dealers, Cairncross jewellers in Perth, said poached pearls would be very difficult to sell on the black market.
He added: "A good pearl could be worth £150 with a really good necklace making £15,000. But since the ban, no jewellers have been allowed to buy loose pearls."



It's a long shot, but, if anyone can help, here's the contact info:

Information can be passed to police at 0845 600 5705, or directly to Mr Stewart at 01738 892650.

Slraep

[pearlshoppe]

Originally Posted by Slraep

Wendy, I was thinking less surveillance and more booby traps. But that would be rather very evil of me, wouldn't it?---and what with me being such a nice timid kid and all. Although...if you seriously think about it, being electrocuted vs. getting boils vs. two active root canals---I don't know what would be worse. And maybe if the punishment were dealt out right away(sound of someone being jolted with a goodly amount of electricity), instead of wishful thinking(bring on the boils), it could possibly work as a great deterrent!! But, still, there's always the odd asinius stultissimus around somewhere.

Slraep

Hey Slraep, shame you're not running for prez, I like your style We need a "nice,timid kid" like you in office

Originally Posted by pearlshoppe

Hey Slraep, shame you're not running for prez, I like your style We need a "nice,timid kid" like you in office

Hi Julie,

That's funny. Oh my, thanks, no, not me as prez. King Midas would be perfect, though.

Slraep

[Nathan Reed]

Very nice Slraep, enjoy your booby traps. On a duller note, couldn't they simply cover the mussel beds with a net, that when tampered with, sounded an alarm at the police station. Or have the beds watched?

Here's a link to another thread with an earlier article about the pearly mussels of the River Esk and their plight.

River Esk's pearly mussels

Slraep

Only 200??? It's a wonder they were discovered before they all died.

Originally Posted by pattye

Only 200??? It's a wonder they were discovered before they all died.

Hi Pattye,

I think there is a North River Esk and a South River Esk. The South River Esk is in Scotland. But both have almost no pearly mussels left.

The article below is a reprint of pearl fishing in the South River Esk in 1942. I bet they couldn't imagine what it would be like now!

http://www.brechinadvertiser.co.uk/d...arl.3023091.jp

Slraep

About the pearly mussel in question--- Margaritifera margaritifera.

Here's a fairly old, but very good article. According to it, just a little over 10 years ago, in 1996, things were looking optimistic for the mussels of the South River Esk. What a difference today.

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsite...eIntCode=S1029

Slraep

I think it must have been similar to how many of the US rivers were fished out. I don't remember reading anything so detailed as that article, but that it was often a summer's weekend activity for the family, I think before the 40's, though.

I remember reading an old cook book by M.F.K. Fisher, a famous foodie, where she writes about the extrordinary abundance of shellfish and other seafood from Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US. She could never have imagined what it is like now. A big toxic dump of an estuary with even the crab having a had time surviving. She would have been incredulous. It was not that long ago.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...,6795363.story

Slraep