Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-13
LIVEIN THE SEA
PEARL DIVERS OF THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.
Thursday Island, Between Australia
and New Guinea, La the Center of the
Richest Pearl Fisheries in the World
"A Dangerous Calling.

A large proportion of the pearls that
deck the fair throats Of the gentle sex
are found in the Pacific ocean. and one
of the richest Of the pearl fisheries is
near the rocky shores of Thursday
Island. This island is one of the most
curious and interesting bits of land on
the globe. 1t is the commercial center
Of race of people who live practi-
cally in the sea. They are the pearl
divers of the Pacific ocean.
Thursday Island is one of the little
group of coral formations lying he
tween Australia and New Guinea. TAX
en- together the largest of these islands
constitute a calendar. with an island
for every day Of the week, beginning
with Sunday Island. Thursday Island
commands Torres Strait. Representa-
tives of nearly all the nations of the
far East may be seen any day along
its shores. disporting themselves in the
water-Filipions, japanese, Chinese.
East Indians, FtJians. Papuans. To the
right of the island, running for 1,20O
miles down the Australian coast, is
stretch Of waving green vegetation, ap-
parently afioat upon the surface Of the
placid ocean. This is the top of the
Great Barrier Reef, the most notable
coral reef in the world. Throughout
it's length it's banks are lined with pearl
oysters.
Thursday Island forms the great
market for these oysters. About Zoo
tUO worth Of shells are raised annually
along the reef and on the western coast
of Australia. The business of pearl
fishing is conducted on the basis Of :he
profit from the oyster shells. The pearls
are clear gain, the value varying a
great deal. One pearl found in 1890
sold for f2,OOO. another for fl 800.
Pearls worth f20 are quite common.
The shells of pearl oysters are OF
enormous size. measuring frequently
eighteen inches across. The oysters lie
in the sea fastened to rocks, especially
and dirt. They hang by thread-llke
1ilaments. about a dozen in a bunch.
The business of the diver is TO cut
this thread and bring up the oysters.
The shells are worth from f1O0 to Zoo
Il ton for the best; the poorest from els
to ESQ ton. The natives trade them
for merchandise, and realize about Els
a ton on the average.
Fishing is done in small boats or lug
gers. Each boat has pumping appar-
atus to force air to the divers under
water. The smallest boat, with appar-
atus. is worth 5000.
The business is very dangerous. Poi
Ronous fish. sharks and squid abound.
Sharks rarely attack divers, but con-
tribute immensely to their nervous
hess. SQuid exude quantity Of inky
black liquid. which dangerously clouds
the water.
Japanese are the best divers. They
stay under water longer. dare more.
and can be relied upon better than any
OF the other types. Among the Malay
natives women are successful divers. |
They go down without diving suits. |
fastening stones to their feet to help |
them to sink. Natives and divers are |
not allowed to open the oysters. A
careful watch is kept to prevent the |
theft of gems under the eye of an ex
perienced foreman. A good operator |
can open a ton Of shells in one day.