I almost ate a saltwater mussel pearl!

by Dave
(Salisbury, Md)

I got some mussels from Assateague Island and took them home. I steamed them and was eating them when I noticed that some of them were just a little crunchy. I assumed it was just a bit of sand and paid no attention to it. Then I bit down on a piece that was much larger and I thought it was a piece of shell so I got it back out of my mouth. It was mostly round and just a bit flattened on one side and it was similar in color to the mussel shell. I immediately knew that it was a pearl.
I have been unsuccessfully trying to find information on its value. Really, no one says much at all about salt water mussel pearls. All I've been able to find out is that they do exist and are 1mm - 3mm in size. Mine is about 3.5mm.