The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-15
DIVE FOR
A FORTUNE
Mother of Pearl
Fishing in
Tahiti.

gold in 49, Captain b. +. Chapman, mas
ter of the schooner Oddfellow, came to
Honolulu from san Francisco, arriving
here on February 16, 1850 He took back
with him a cargo of Irish potatoes, which
sold in San Francisco for twenty-five
cents pound. Captain Chapman made
several voyages between the two ports.
aud is thus prominently Identified with
the early trade which was then estab-
lshed between the two countries. The
Impressions which Captain Chapman then
gained of Honolulu We're carried with
him through half a century of strenuous
life in the Pacific Ocean, spent mostly
in the South Seas and on the island of
Tahiti, which he left n few months since
to make his permanent home here. He
arrived the steamship Sierra on
Wednesday, and will settle down in the
residence on College street which he
had built here last year.
When Captain Chapman decided to es-
tablish trade between San Francisco and
Honolulu, the latter was a staid settled
city. and to it san Francisco had to look
for its supplies of vegetables. as well as
to send it's boys and girls to attend
school ut Punahou. Captain Chapman
was quick to see the advantage of build
ing up good trade and did so. He then
became attracted by the South Seas and
cast his fortunes in the innumerable ISL
ands there, and finally engaged in bust
ness on the island of Tahiti, where for
twenty-six years he was member of
the trading firm of Turner Il Chapman
The latter was the navigator of the firm
until a few years ago, ana continued to
he master of vessels owned and controll-
ed by the firm. OF the resources of Ia
hiti, Captain Chapman said yesterday:
The vanilla industry is increasing rap
idly. and hundreds of tons are being
shipped to San Francisco, where a ready
market is found The majority of the
natives are engaged in raising the vanilla
beans which is as easy as II is profitable.
When native gets Il little money he
generally puts ii into a vanilla patch, and
derives about $50 "A pound in French
money for the product I presume this
industry will keep on increasing until it
* one of the main sources of revenue to
the islands. Not many Americans are
yet engaged in the business but a few
Australians have come into the islands
and are working II up.
The steamer line which the Spreckels
have established 10y the introduction of
the steamship Australia, will open up the
country, and probably introduce num-
bcrs of foreigners there hut ! don't be-
licve there is enough trade between the
islands and the coast to guarantee that
the service can be kept up There are
thirty trading vessels plying between the
various islands of the group They carry
quite a bit of intcr-island trade, and
AL seem to be busy most of the year.
But the principal source of revenue to
the entire group is in its output of moth
er-of-pearl which sells for, perhaps,
about st,lOO a ton, This Is the black-edge
pearl, accredited with being the finest
quality to be obtained. This is obtained
by native divers ana foreigners. The
former dive down into about twelve faith
IltNs NJ "a md Iic,n fh. mot hnr-
of-pearl. Their feats of diving are won
derful, and 7 do not know of Il finer set
of deep sea divers than these men. They
20 down into the depths without any APP
paratuS whatever, and often remain down
for such Il long time that layman
would believe that the fellows had been
drowned. The foreigners are provided
with diving armor, which makes it much
easier for them, and their operations are
at times, more conclusive
The best Of the pearl comes from the
Parmuta group of low atoll islands.
These have passages into harbors for
vessels. The French government restricts
diving on certain islands for year at Il
time. and requires operators to open up
other shell fisheries. The rule is general
that by publication this island or that
island will be opened up for diving at
such and such a time of the year. This
is fine rule, and prevents any one ISL
and from being entirely stripped and ex-
hausted of its pearl.
''As rule, bout 800 tons can be taken
away from an island. when the authori-
ties close il to further work for that
year. In this way the work is distribut
cd. Another feature of the diving is that
they are not allowed to take out IA shell
less than three inches in diameter. In
order that its orders shall not be dis
obeyed, a French revenue cutter cruises
around amongst the islands and the
shores are patrolled by French gen.
d'armes, who cooperate with the native
chiefs.
The natives ar. treated very kindly
by the French, and as a general thing,
law and order prevail all over the group,
and there il little or no dissatisfaction.
They are allowed to vote for the local Of
fees, and thus participate in the run
ming of the island government to a GER
tain extent. All the road making and re-
pairing is done by the natives. The roads
are beautiful, Well kept and circle the ISL
and of Tahiti. When men are needed for
the work the chief draws about forty
men, who are then paid by the govern
ment about four francs aday, and re-
ceive in addition "a government ration of
food. The streams are spanned by fine
bridges, either of iron or wood, and splen-
didly constructed.
The natives cannot be imposed on by
foreigners. If foreigner goes to a ma
tive and wants to buy his piece of land,
he has to wait until the intention is pub
slished in the official gazette for n month.
Then if no one else claims any title to
the property the native Is at liberty to
make the sale, and he is not robbed in
the transaction, either, as the govern
ment sees to it that he receives a fair
price for his holdings"
Captain Chapman was accompanied
from Tahiti by his niece, Miss Posten.
and his grandchildren. His daughter will
arrive in the near future from Tahiti.
A WORD TO TRAVELLERS.
The excitement incident to travelling