The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
DIVING FOR PEARLS.
The Methods Employed by the Divers on the
Coast of Queensland.

The Methods Employed by the Divers on the
Coast of Queensland.
Special to the indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 19.-United States Consul
G. A. Griffin, located at Sidney, Australia, re-
lates some very interesting incidents in connec-
ton with the pearl fisheries of Queensland. His
description Of the methods employed in fishing
for pearls is valuable. He says a number of
vessels go out after pearls together, forming a
kind of civil squadron. The diver does not begin
his work until water is reached about fifty feet
deep. Then he jumps overheard with his boots
so heavily weighted with lead as to make a very
rapid descent. Reaching the bottom of the
body of water the diver walks leisurely along
until he comes to a school of shells, when he
signals to the boat to cast anchor. He CARRIES
with him a sack or bag to hold tie shells, and as
soon as this is filed it is lifted up, emptied and
sent down to him again. A diver is able to
remain under water several hours at a time.
Some divers go down at 9 in the morning. and
stay until 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The shell
lies open on the ground, and great care is
required in hadling it. for if touched in the
wrong way it will close up on the hand like a
wise. Accidents of this kind not unfrequently
happen to inexperienced divers, who are obliged
to signal to those above to lift them up and
remove the shell from their hands. The appa-
ratus boats, except in very rough weather, are
enabled to fish all the year round. The average
boat will catch from one to one and a half tons
of shells per month.
The occupation of a diver is very unhealthy,
and soon produces deafness and diseases at the
- H. DI1el - Ae--.
from his mouth. ears and ~nostrils. The men
also run the risk of being eaten by sharks,
although death from this cause is not apt to
occur except in untried fishing ground, as the
noise of the divers is almost certain to drive
the sharks away.
Pearl shell stations consist Of a small, but
niee-looking residence for the manager. and one
Of less pretensions for the men, a warehouse for
storing provisions, etc., and several sheds for
drying the shells. Before the shell is brought to
the station the boats usually run into. land, and
the men open the oysters, take out the pearls. if
any, and then throw the fish overheard. The
she'll is roughly cleaned and slowed away. At
the end of the voyage it is taken to the station,
where it is counted and thoroughly cleaned. The
shells are then put up in packages of about three
hundred pounds, and are ready for shipment.
These pearls are worth from 1926 to $3.50 per ton.
They are shipped largely to the United States.
where they often sell for 81, 900 per ton. These
bells are manufactured into knife handles.
airt-studs, etc.
A good diver can earn from $50 to $3.50 per
month taking out pearls. Like miners, they
sometimes strike rich leads, and make fabulous
salaries. The tender to the diver gets from ten
to twelve dollars a month and a small interest in
the catch. Vessels.usually have one diver and
four tenders, who compose the crew.