The Lamar register., 1896-11-14

other boats. and should be e sids-
awake fellow: quick to act IN an erner-
gency, and constantly alert,
on the pearling grounds, with the
first s;reaks OF dawn blue wreaths OF
smoke arise from every boat The
cooks are busy preparirg The eyesllst-
ing fsh and rice for The Mohamme'lan
crews. The divers have. perforee. 20
content themselves with enp Of eof-
Zee and a piece Of bread. Es Il Is impos-
sihle TO do good work under water with
a full stomach
The diving dress Is waterproof
combination CT coat. yest. trousers,
and stockings, all in one. The only
inlets or outlets are the vide collar
and the wrisiiets Dressed In a double
set OF heavy aannels tto absorb the
perspirationl. the diver. VIII the tend
er's" aid, works his way. feet hrst, lnto
the dress; hls hands are sonpedi 50
that they may slip through the light
htting rubber Eristlsts. and then the
boots are buckiei on. The latter are
leaden-soled and weigh - pounds
Next the eorEelat or shouldsr-pIece Is
added. and screwed tightly 70 TIE col
lar OF the dress. Then the lifeline and
pipe are attached, the eighty -pound
back and chest weights suspended from
the shoulders. the helmet screwed en-.
and the diver Is ready 10 step over
the side.
Pearl dlvins Is carried on At ,Ispth
OF sixty TO los feet. At the latter
depth diver cannot remain under
more than ten minutes on account Of
the pressure. In forty feet or atty feet
OF water Il Is possible 70 remain below
two hours without suffering much in
convenience As to the distance ono
can see when below. II Is governed
entirely by the state OF the water. II
clear, objects can be distinctly seen
forty or fifty feet. but II dirty. tha; a.
stirred up by strong tides. or rough
weather. II Is necessary 70 20 On al
fours TO End bottom. 4 good days
work is anything over 900 pairs OF
shells. although I have known as many
as 1,o0o 10 be picked up in that time
Pearls can never be reekoned On zH
certainties. Finding them Is altogeth-
er a matter OF luck 0ne diver may
open ton after ton OF shells without Sc
curing anything but few seed pearls,
while another may take n fortune cut
Of days gatherinE-
Diving. and particularly pearl diving.
is an exceedingly dangerous occuna-
ton. and accidents on the peaFIinE
grounds are OF common occurrence. A
diver runs the risk OF losing his life
by ripping or tearing bis dress spon
sharp rocks or corals. through which
he must often pick his way. Then.
again. an accident may happen 20 the
air-pump In which case he Is safo-
Gated: or the air-pIpe may becor.s IN
coupled or burst. with the saEle fatal
result But perhaps the greatest can
ger which bese.s diver when blow
is that Of touling on the bottom. and
to explain how easily this may hap
pen. viii relate an experience OF my
own:
| had been working all day. and
about knock on" time. having a fun
bag OF shells. screwed up the escape
valve in order to MI the dress with air
and make myself lighter, and gave ,he
customary signal 10 ascend. The life
line tautened, and / was soon lifted
from my feet and being drawn toward
the lighter water above The angry
frame OF mind that usually attends the
diver al work gradually passed away
as l was raised to the surface. aud l
was just getting good-tempered at the
thought OF a mou,hful of fresh air,
when l felt a sudden Jerk under my