Beachcombing — with a metal detector

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33974, 15 October 1975, Page 11

Beachcombing — with a metal detector

''From RALPH SHARK AX in Brisbane)

The Queensland Gold Coast is aptly named according to Mr Jim Southwick, a 38-y earold Canadian, on holiday! in Australia. Mr Southwick has been beachcombing, and his rewards have averaged around 520 a day in lost coins. It is not because Mr Southwick is an experienced': beachcomber that he is sue-; cessful. A touch of science • helps him along. Mr Southwick is an electrical fitter and he uses an electronic metal detector in his beachcombing. At Surfers Paradise this week Mr Southwick said beachcombing was a hobby !■ he developed while touring! the United States. “Someb people fish for fish; I fish 1 for money with my detec-! tor,” he said. Since he arrived in Aus-' tralia 12 months ago Mr! Southwick has “fished” j nearly all the major tourist: beaches in Australia. He rates Manly Beach ini Sydney the best in Australia:

, for his hobby, closely followed by Bondi . “It is unvelievable how much money peole lose at the beaches,” he said. Dur- ! ing the last Chrismas holdiay period he was making up to $4O a day for about three weeks. Most of the money was found on Manly Beach. “I (used to work Manly Beach about four hours and then go over to Bondi Beach,” he said. Mr Southwick works on a principle: the bigger the beach the better. He had his first go at beachcombing with a metal detector at Waikiki Beach, just before be came to Australia. “You have to be really good at your work to Ido any good over there be- ! cause there are so many 'other people doing it. I “Whole families spend idays beachcombing with ■metal detectors there. Some families even depend on it !for a living.” The metal detector used by Mr Southwick is similar! ;to a device used by the! j American astronauts on! itheir moon missions.

Experience has taught him to distinguish between small ■ change and rubbish buried in : the sand. The detector, which re- ■ sembles a mine detector, has ; a neddle on a dial which t swings to a high point when it passed over a metal ; object. The detector also emits a ■ bleeping sound which Mr i Southwick says he can interpret. "The type of bleep 'allows me to distinguish i! whether there’s money or ■ rubbish buried in the sand.” Mr Southwick finds most . of his coins buried just a few inches beneath the sand , and he usually begins his • fishing as the sun goes i down and as the beach ■ crowds leave for home. “I ■ tried working a few times ■ during the day, but T frightened people,” he said. “They thought I was looking for a i bomb.” > His finds have included : valuable rings and watches. He turns these over to the I police, and claims them later lif they’ are not retrieved by “their owners. At Cairns | recently he found a ring valued at $5OO.