The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-10-23
PEARL SHE'LL FISHING.
II Methods in Use Among the Expert
Divers of New Guinea.

The Methods in Use Among the Expert
Divers of New Guinea.
Between the most northern portion
If Queensland, Australia and New
Guinea flow the waters of Torres
straits. The straits are eighty miles
vide, filed with islands, shoals and
reefs, and amid these the pearl shell
fisheries Of Queensland are situated.
The product is shipped to the United
States and Europe and used for knife.
handles, buttons. combs and orna-
mental work. Most Of the vessels en-
tagged in the business belong to Sgd
hey. One or two American vessels
nave also been employed. The vessels
pay a license fee to Queensland, and
are taxed for the land used in connec-
ion with the fisheries. A failure TO
take out a license is liable to Il fine of
.hree times the amount of the fee. In
1888 there Were 2OG vessels engaged in
the work, employing 1900 men.
The dress Of the divers is heavier
than is seen here and is made Of solid
sheet Indian rubber. covered on both
sides with canvas; the helmet is timed
copper with three glasses. one in front
and one on each side, to give the wear
or a good chance to sec his surround
ings. Small iron bars protect the
glasses from injury. There is a double
collar on the helmet, the inner II
coming up around the neck and the
other fastened to the dress. The breast
plate is made OF timed copper, with a
waive By which the diver can regulate
the pressure of the atmosphere. A
small hose supplies the necessary air
and a signal line is tied to the waist of
the dress. The whole outfit costs seven
hundred dollars.
The vessels 90 out in fleets with pro-
visions for two weeks. When the
ground is reached, the diver goes down
and finds a spot where the shells are
plenty. He signals to those above to
cast anchor, and proceeds to fill the
bag that he carries. When full. it is
drawn up and again sent down. In
this way the work is carried on for
hours. during which time the diver re-
mains under water, Care has to be
used in taking the shells. as when they
are touched on the wrong side they
close up, sometimes taking the divers
fingers in a vise-like grip. When this
occurs. he must rise to the surface Of
the water and have it removed.
Some OF the boats are not provided
with divers outfits and depend on eN-
pert swimmers, who dive down. seize a
shell and throw it into the boat, and,
after gettiag back their breath, dive
again. The divers earl from $50 to
SllO q month. Generally, they sign
shipping articles for three years for
regular wages and Il certain per cen.
in the amount Of shell taken. Some
make as much rs $500 Il month. The
crews are mostly South Sea Islanders,
and Chinese. Tenders who
assist the divers are paid ~l2 4 month
and Il small interest in the catch. The
boats having no diving apparatus are
idle in stormy weather. and from De-
,ember 10 March. but the men are paid
for full time. The swimmers get from
10 IS per month.
At Torres Straits no organized effort
has been made to gather the pearls
hat are found. and most of them are
aiken by the men who Sccrete them un-
ii 4 chance offers to dispose of them.
Sometimes this is done by swallowing
hem. 4 number of handsome speci-
mems have come from these fisheries.
The European and American demand
'egulatcs the price of shells at the fish
no ground, and varies from Sc. % to
g.. 80 per ton. The shipments to
America are increasing. but much of it
.lrriyes via London. Young shells are
he best ana command n much higher