[Jewelry making - Article 01117] - [Orchid] Fishing blue coral

[eclipse designs]

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Hi Orchid,

    i have some blue coral from near my home in alaska, and i have been
    thinking of cutting and polishing it into cabs and beads. it is a
    beautiful pearlescent light blue on the outside and when cut across
    the grain at an angle it has dark brown rings alternating with
    iridescent blue ones. it's really very beautiful stuff, however i
    know there are many tricky issues involved with coral. the stuff i
    have was taken accidentally by fishermen.  i also fish commercially
    part time and have seen it come up on a hook occasionallly. if it is
    still attached to a rock it may survive so we throw it back.
    otherwise it makes nice ornament in the garden. however, because i am
    a fisherman and i depend on the health of the ocean, i do not like
    to see the destruction of a live tree of coral, and try hard to
    avoid it. 

    it happens though, so there it is, and it's too beautiful to throw
    away or leave it to rot in the garden. does anyone know about laws
    concerning selling cut and polished coral? besides the law,  there
    is the ethical issue, if i sell this stuff and create a market, 
    will people start intentionally catching coral to sell it? i know
    they do in other places, i'd like to think that Alaskans are
    different but i know better.  also, coral dust is extremely toxic
    when inhaled. i know this and do all my work under running water,
    but not everyone might be so careful. lastly this stuff tends to
    separate and split when it dries out.  what about resin impregnation
    under vacuum like with emeralds? opticon? any ideas? 

thanks for being the orchid,
D&S, Eclipse Gems and Design

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