New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07
HE IT'S 1 PElRi MN.

From The San Francisco Csr.
James Clark OF Queensland. Australia. n. king of
the pearl-Nshrrs and ths owner OF tie only pear
sheI farm in The world. - A. me occidental
pearl shell. wnch he collected from the deep -cl
shells It is "a new ,Ins nobody has eyer ai.cmp,
81 n before" Mi 'ldr. g. on tour Of The word o.
investigate the various p"tr nsh~tl"-
He has AL the flcis and nrures concerning them
on ms nngcriips H. i- much Interested .n tho
tcaslvc pearl fisheries in the cur OF california but
M lSS' nyes, in ih ~ '' way ~' ' has 10
The kins Of pearl n.1cr' employ, no es. han ~
skilled divers. The vessels used nre OF all szcs.
the average cost Of rnrh o.iag about ieD A.
ing" said Nh. clark last night MY nsher.ss are lr
the Torres Straits N the north Of Queensland IL
gan on smnll acale. and have given the pHrl hsh
cries my close attention during all these years NJ
experience has led IN, 70 tho belief ma WIN propc
Intelligence ia the selection oi pace. one can raise
p,ar.s aad pearl SHELLS AZ easily "a one can rails
low started large pesri-sheii farm ihrce Se ,'
CO. and nave stocked II with shell which ob'aineI
water To grow shells successfully. according t.
my experience thus far. the water must not be too
There IS one hing am sure OF. and that is
that no matter now many pearls are produced
fore there is no danger OF any combine among the
pearl-fshers Of The globe 1t is FOR the purpose
fisheries Of the different parts Of the world that
well informed in regard to the pearl fisheries in
all parts Of the country Your great fishery in
American Continent. and Is practically the only
one excepting that OF the Gulf OF Mexico. below
the Gulf.
The pearls that are grown in the Torres
Straits all Of the color that you see here. This
beautiful silver pearl which you see on my scarf
Is a good illustration OF the kind produce.
There is only color. In fact. and that IL the
most desired among purchasers. This large oval
pearl you may think someth ng abnormal in its
way. but We get many Of them. There Is no ques-
ton bu; that the Torres fisheries produce The
finest pearls 20 be had The market shows that.
They bring the highest prices"
Mr.. Clark is a man OF medium height and middle
age. lie Is said TO be nulti-mllliona.re and to
gan pearl fishing few years He has red
dish beard a clear gray eye and "A quiet. confident
way OF talking that Is very Interesting.
a stretch OF water Ten miles long and about five
miles VIDE the edge Of the Torres Straits.
The water l. shallow. for Il is only in that KIND
Of water that shells can be successfully matured.
from the surrounding shores whether or not he has
the best fishing aground.
"If the shores are high and rugged II Indicates
that the water IL deep ana cold. The shells do
not attain the greatest size there. Bes'des this
II Is hard or the divers In gong 90 deep for them
Where the shores are low and recedng and the
water warm. there are 70 he found the finest shells
and the bsgesi pearls.
81 ship my shells to London In my own vessels.
The halls are used for scores Of different pur-
poses now. and there Is greater demand for then,
each year. They go TO London In my vessels by
hundreds Of tons.
The pearls marketed in London and Paris
mainly. The catch each year runs. roughly
speaking. from 100000 worth up to almost Ave
times that. There "a SANITY growing dema nj
for them. ] have been IN the business long enough
10 ascertain that for certainty
"It IS because OF this that / am now trying
have established and stocked by portion Of what
1 have caught"