In a similar manner as in Asia , Native Americans harvested freshwater pearls from lakes and rivers like the Ohio , Tennessee , and Mississippi .
Others successfully retrieved marine pearls from the Caribbean and waters along the coasts of Central and South America .
In a similar manner as in Asia , Native Americans harvested freshwater pearls from lakes and rivers like the Ohio , Tennessee , and Mississippi , while others successfully retrieved marine pearls from the Caribbean and waters along the coasts of Central and South America .