QUEENSLAND'S PEARLING GROUNDS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2788, 11 October 1910, Page 6

QUEENSLAND'S PEARLING GROUNDS.

The pearl fisheries of Northern Australia are the most lucrative ami the least understood of the world's fisheries. The pearling grounds, as the; are termed locally, extend along the north-east and northern coasts of Queensland. In years gone by, diving was mostly carried on by naked divers in comparatively shallow waters, but the use of the diving dress is now almost universal. The profits of pearling are enormous. The wages of the divers range from £1 to £2 per month, and a "lay" of £2O on each ton of shell lifted. The diver's tender is paid £4 per month, and the four members of the crew, 30/ to £2 10/. per month. These are the wages the men sign articles at, but comparatively little money is paid, as the crews more often than not "cut out" their wages in "slop chest," viz., goods purchased from the master-pearler, who makes more than 150 per cent, clear profit from this part of the business alone. The pearling boats are worked from a schooner, and during the season, which lasts from April to November, only go ashore once in six weeks 'for firewood and water. These landing places are on lonely parts of the coast, so that even if the crews had ready money they could not purchase anything. The majority of pearlers maintain the closest secrecy concerning any pearls they discover, and this is made easy by the system under which the boats are worked. Every afternoon the mate from the schooner visits each pearling lugger, and collects the shells, which are opened on board the schooner by the master of the vessel and the white men. The best pearls are generally found hanging in a small bag just inside the lips of the shell, and others of less value in the body of the fish. The pearls are sent to London, and sold privately. The quantity of pearlshell produced in Queensland during 1907 was valued at £70,493, from which pearls to the value of £30,000 were obtained. Two distinct species of mother-of-pearl shell are exported, the principal trade being done in the large golden-lipped shells (Meleagrin Morgantifera), found north of Exmouth Gulf. It is used for the larger manufactured articles, such as dessert and fish-knife and fork handles, large buttons, and inlaid work. The largest and finest pearls are also obtained in it, and although many shells may be opened without finding a gem of great value, every ton of sheli may be relied upon to supply an ounce of barrock, worth about £lO.