Pearls

Pearls do not usually grow inside plums! Pearls grow inside shellfish, for example, oysters and clams. Shellfish have hard shells. They open and close their shells to catch their food. The shells are usually grey and ugly on the outside, but shiny and beautiful inside.

When something, for example, a little worm or some sand, gets inside a shellfish, the shellfish covers it with layers of mother-of-pearl. After a long time, it becomes a pearl.

A long time ago, people went out to sea in small boats, and dived into the water to look for pearls. They worked very quickly because they could not breathe under water. A good diver could work under water for about three minutes. Then they climbed into the boat again, opened the shells and looked for pearls.

Today pearl divers carry aqualungs (bottles of air) on their backs and they wear masks on their faces so they can work under the water for a long time.

Today many pearls grow in oysters in oyster farms. People buy young oysters and put them in a place called an oyster bed. The oysters eat and grow there.

When an oyster is big enough, the farm keeper opens it very gently and carefully. He puts a little bead inside its shell' Later the bead becomes a pearl. These pearls are called cultured pearls.