bythesea

I did uncover a deeply buried doc online about marbles being used in Buoys, wish I could remember or wade through my bookmarks and find it On another site I run called Seaglasslovers,,,,we have one member who collects glass, well not marble, more like golf ball size glass from the railroad tracks,,,, Other members researched it and found that they were used to transport cargo in stations,,,,laying the marbles out and putting planks on top to roll the heavy cargo......sounded credible to me..... Yes,,,,I am amazed at the "myth" idea and it is funny how it has spread through the sea glass industry since we first posted it on our site 10 years ago....guess that is how all "myths" start. LOL

About 10 years ago I acquired a bunch of sea glass marbles from Puerto Rico (I am a sea glass jewelry maker) and was told that they were once used as ballast in holds of ships coming from Europe. The marbles would fill up the holds and be shoveled into the harbor upon arrival and then the holds loaded with rum, molasses and sugar cane. Though I have long used this as the origin of these cool beach finds and it has since become spread through the sea glass industry as the source of many sea glass marbles, I thought that the "experts" in the field may be able to clarify...... I have found no documentation to this ballast theory, but did find some on the use of marbles in buoys and channel markers....most of the sea glass marbles in Puerto Rico are cats eyes. Over the years I have expanded my collection with marbles from all over the world,,,,,Onionskins from England, codd marbles and the like. Any ideas on how marbles got tossed in the sea are greatly appreciated!

Can any help Id this marble?