Pearl Diving in the Gulf of California.
At the present time the pearl-diving expeditions are fitted oat with complete diving apparatus. The divers descend clothed in helmet and diving suit, their feet heavily weighted to counterpoise the weightyof armour. They fish in much deeper water than the ancient busos, oau stay an A Indefinite period beneath the surface, jftnd have thus been enabled to explore new and productive banks ; but in former times the diver descended naked, armed only with a pointed stick, and equipped with a sack in which to gather the shells. Six fathoms was the average depth of their fishing ground. The nude body of the diver had no protection from the ravenous man-eating sharks, which abounded ; yet the daring fellows, confident in the protection of the Virgin, whom they had riot failed to propitiate to encounter the hungry tiger of the deep, but coolly awaiting the moment when it turned with open mouth to seize them, would thrust the doublepointed stick between the jaws, thus pinning them permanently apart till death released the helpless monster.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7013, 27 June 1894, Page 4
Word Count
179Pearl Diving in the Gulf of California. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7013, 27 June 1894, Page 4
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