The best way to sell colour is to sell colour that goes klunk or makes a dent in the pan when it hits. It can be sold to jewelry shops and bar owners. When quoting where you found it you have to follow certain rules. In Ontario we follow the 6 mile rule. We pick a likely point 6 miles away. It has to be likely. With placer the best rule is the 30 mile rule. Always pick a river 30 miles away, or in the next valley over. Pick a river that is out of the book and has a few places open. Stake a few claims on it. Be secretive when you are in that area. That is always a dead give away.
When on the actual river, nosy parkers will come by. Do not be evasive but invite them in for coffee and chat till the moon turns blue. Be as nosy as they are, following one nosy question with a bright look and another nosy question right back. When you have established beyond a doubt that the people are locals, say, "you fellers aren't from around here are you..?" When the ask what you are finding, say, "well we haven't found er yet, but we will.. some say you can get 50 cents a pan here. Most we found so far is a cent. ($3.00 a yard) But hey! it's gold." Have your partner bring over a pan with one small speck of gold in it about the size of flyshit. "We will find er yet.. I figure by the ledge if we keep working for a month more. Come by then and we might have few nuggets." If they ask if you have found any nuggets, look sorrowful and down into your coffee, pause and say, "no, but", (look up and narrow your eyes.. "they are here stranger, you can bet your boots, and we'll find em.." Make sure the coffee is terrible and you put on more and ask them if they can stand another cup.. they will edge away.. When you figure they are just about out of earshot, you stage whisper with your back turned, "fool, I told you not to ever show the good stuff.. next time you can get your own claims for people to steal." They won't be back. just in case, make sure when ever you take coffee, or make camp, the river is as low grade as you can find on the claims. If they do come back they will always test that area. What might work is to try to sell the claims. Say you want 40,000 outright, no royalty. If they ask if there is any tests, or drilling, say not as far as you know, but they are welcome to try. Between flyshit and 40,000 you probably won't see them, unless they are locals who know that river, and that is always a possibility.
On the real river, stake it under another name. Be aware you could be followed, and stay awhile on the wrong road making preparations. After a suitable interval pull away at nite and make to the creek. It is permissable to tell me where the creek actually is. I am trustworthy. So tell me, where is it?
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