Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-03

land is even larger. There are
pearl fishing stations scattered about
within a hundred miles OF this point,
and $50 boats and luggers are constant
ly engaged In the business.
Many tons Of shells are foundi In oth-
ers of the south Sea Islands. the
Tuamotu group has already produced
about s., 000. 900 worth OF them, having
exported something like $1,000 tons OF
shells TO Europe, and there are other
islands almost as rich. II Is said that
the TuamOtu beds are almost exhaust
ed. but II left alone, the oysters grow
rapidly. and u fishery viii reproduce IT.
self In seven years,
The shells are worth from $500 to
$1,000 per ton for the better quality,
and even the smaller shells OF the poor
er species bring from sl5 to 5000 per ton.
There are ships which go from island
to island and buy the shells from the
savages. trading tobacco, calico and
other goods for them. They give as
high as from $50 to 800 per ton, but
this Is for stun that will sell In London
for about ten times as much
AMONG THE DIVERS.
There are hundreds Of pearl divers
here at Thursday Island, Among the
best are the Japanese, who VIII stay
longer under water and risk more than
any one else. There are many natives
from the South seas and also Danes,
Swedes and Malays, but the proprietors
Of the ships say the Japanese are the
best and that the others are always
pretending to be sick.
The fishing Is done In small boats or
lugeers. The boats go out In fleets OF
one large boat. OF, say 100 tons, and
several small ones. The smaller boats
are FOR the divers. Each boat has a
pumping apparatus to force air into the
diving dresses when the men are under
the surface and also other machinery.
The smallest boat costs about $4,000, so
that the business is by no means a
cheap one.
Before going down into the water the
men put on diving dresses. TO which
air pipes or tubes are attached. They
are first clad IN thick flannel and then
IN these dresses with metal heads, 50
framed al the cont with glass that the
diver can see out Each diver wears
boots soled with plates OF copper or
lead. The weight he carries is usually
about $50 pounds, but sometimes less,
often there are twenty-eight pounds
on each boot. and " is important In
going down the diver keep his feet be-
low him. II he should lose his balance
and turn over or his boots should fall
OF his legs might fly UP In the air.
II one boot fails on that leg will bob
up I'm the air and he must as far as
possible keep all the weight under him.
II he Is searching for shells at the bot
tom Of the sea he must straddle them
and stoop down. Every diver carries a
bag Of shells and then Jerks the signal
line, and Is pulled up. The shells are
counted and weighed, and he Is paid
according 10 what he has fsund, some
men making much more aTN>others.
There is one diver. who has gathered
l,005 pairs Of shells In n day. but half
this number Is good work.
THE DANGERS OF PEARL FISHING
The business is very dangerous. There
are sharks and poisonous fish and
squid. The sharks follow the luggers.
attracted by the pieces OF salt beef.
which are now and then thrown from
the boats. They do not trouble the div
ers without they are naked except
when very hungry. and II they come
near the diver can open IN escape
valve In his suit and make a noise
which usually scares them away. As
a rule the divers are not afraid Of the
sharks, but they DO not spear FISH or
other animals az the bottom Of the sea
without FIRST ascertaining whether
there are sharks about, for the dead
Gh would surely attract them.
Another danger Is the veki or great
squid. This marine monster has long
arms which he fastens upon anything
within his reach II disturbed he
yomits out an lnky nuid which dis.
col0rs the waters about him. and the
diver Is liable 90 be b%ewildered IN IN
gloom and 20 IAN against the rocks.
In the native fisheries much Of the
diving ia done b. the women. who 60
down without diving suits. They fas
ten stones 90 their feet % enable them
Ia sink, but do not plug up their nos
trils and ears as DO the pearl divers Of
India.