The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-12
DIVE FOR
A FORTUNE
Mother of Pc arI
Fishing in
Tahiti.
HOW FRENCH
PROTECT INDUSTRY
Capt. Chapman of Tahiti is Here.
Hawaiian Potatoes His
Cargoes in 1850.

Half a century ago, when Hawaii was
supplying nearly all of California's food
supplies, incidental to the great rush Tor
gold in 40, Captain B. F. 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 a pound. Captain Chapman made
several voyages between the two ports,
and is thus prominently identified with
the early trade which was then estab-
lished between the two countries. The
impressions which Captain Chapman then
gained of Honolulu were 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 a few months since
to make his permanent home here. He
arrived on 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 staid settled
city. and to it San Francisco had to look
for it's supplies of vegetables, as well as
to send its boys and girls to attend
school at 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 q member of
the trading firm of Turner & Chapman.
The latter was the navigator of the firm
until few years ago, and continued to
be master of vessels owned and controll-
ed by the firm. OF the resources of Ia
hitl, 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 it is profitable.
When a native gets a little money he
generally puts it into vanilla patch, and
derives about $3.50 pound in French
money for the product presume this
industry will keep on increasing until it
is one of the main sources of revenue to
the islands. Not many Americans are
yet engaged in the business, but few
and are working it up.
The steamer line which the Spreckels
have established by the introduction of
the steamship Australia, will open up the
country, and probably introduce num-
bers of foreigners there. but ] don't be-
lieve 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
IL
on quite a bit of inter-island trade, and
all seem to be busy most of the year
But the principal source of revenue to
the entire group is in it's output of moth
er-of-pearl. which sells for, perhaps,
about $1,l00 a ton. This is the black-edge
pearl, accredited with being the finest
quality to be obtained. This is obtained
by native divers and foreigners. The
former dive down into about twelve faith
oms of water and disengage the mother
of-pearl. Their feats of diving are Won
derful, and I do not know of finer set
of deep sea divers than these men. They
go down into the depths without any ap-
paratus whatever and often remain down
for such 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 a
time, and requires operators to open up
other shell fisheries. The rule is general
that by publication this island 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.
LAS rule, bout 800 tons can be taken
away from an island, when the authori-
ties close it to further work for that
year. In this way the work is distribut-
ed. Another feature of the diving is that
they are not allowed to take out a 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.