JAP PEARLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 10

JAP PEARLERS.

ON OFF-COAST BANKS. AUSTRALIANS’ RIVALS. Air Mark Aitken, a pearler, of Thursday Island, staled in Darwin on December ,"> that the .Japanese were increasing their pearling boats -operating off the coast -of Northern Australia. Mr Aitken said that recently, while •he was on (lie new pearling grounds •to the north-west of Bathurst island, a .Japanese motor vessel of about 300 tons visited Hie grounds, with a party of scientists and Japanese. Government officials on board, and made investigations. The Japanese on I lie grounds were operating about 10 ketches. These were much larger than the Aus•tcaWan boats, which numbered nearly 20. The Japanese officials conversed with the Japanese pearling ketches and watched them bringing up the shell. The Japanese scientists were equally interested, and sent down several divers. After staying two days, the motor vessel left. lie heard'afterwards that it, was a patrol boat from the Pellew group of islands, near the Philippines, over which tiic Japanese exercise a mandate.

It was the opinion of pearlers, Mr Ail ken said, that the Japanese Government was investigating the pearlshell industry from the commercial point of view, and was looking into the reports that Japanese vessel had been ■poaching in Australian waters. The Japanese ketches had a perfect right It, be on Hie new grounds, as they were well off the coast on the high seas. Mu- Aitken said that Australian pearlers still had the major share of the pearlshell industry, but ttic .Japanese were placing new boats on the 'grounds every year. The Japanese boats operated with a mother ship, generally an auxiliary of about 100 •tons, which brought stores from Japan •and look the shell to the Japanese market. Australian pearlers employed Japanese divers mostly.