Fisherman Jewellers were amazed by Little Willie gem
Bill Abernethy spent more than 40 years working as a freshwater pearl fisherman.
He believes he was the only full-time pearl fisher when the ban was introduced in 1998.
Bill, 91, said: “My father and uncle were pearl fishers and I was just a young boy when I first went out on the river with them.
“It could be a lonely job but you would chat to other fishermen.
“You had to have a strong back as there was a lot of bending down but it kept you fit.
“You had to be well clad for the job, in warm woollens and breasthigh waders. And if the weather was too bad, you couldn’t go out.”
Bill, who lives near Inverness, said he will never forget the day he found the pearl now known as Little Willie.
He said: “I knew there was going to be a pearl in the shell but it was twice the size I thought it was.
“I took it out, wrapped the pearl in a dock leaf to protect it from getting scratched and put in my pocket. When I took it home and showed it to my father, he said, ‘You’ve struck it lucky today.’
“I held on to it for a bit, then when I took it to the jewellers their eyes about popped out.”
Bill said he would never encourage anyone to follow in his footsteps searching for pearls.
He said: “Pollution has taken its toll on the rivers. It would be illegal and there is no market for it now.”