Silk From The Sea

The fea yields many preciqus things- coral, amber and pearta - but it is not gen erally known that in sorae parts of the Med iterranean a species of mussel is found o which the shells contain one of the nios' beautiful textile niaterials known. These shells are about seven inches long and three inches broad, and each of thein contains hank or byssus of the fiber, weighing hal a drachni, and at first it presenta nothin particular to the eye, being solid with mm and the remains of marine planta. Bu when washed and combed the fibers are seeu to be extremely lustrous, glistening in the suoshine in thades yarying from s golden yellow to an olive brown. Spun and woven in the ordinary manner, stock inga, gloves, neckties and similar article can be manufactured from theua, and they are likewise euited for making the fines lace. At present the production of these fibers hardly exceeda 200 kilograinmes (3 cwt. 3 qrs. ) a year. Specimens of these curious museels and their finished product were exhibited at the great Paris exhibi tion, but they appear to have been over looked.