The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-09-12
AUSTRALIAN PEARL FISHERIES.
Divers Reward-Dangers from Deep
Water and Hurricanes.

Western Australia, bids fair to be-
come a verita Bile Eldorado for those
engaged in the pearl and shell trade.
for pearls valued at many thousands
of pounds have been recently found
there. Unlike the Ceylon and Per-
sian Gulf fishers, who dive naked,
the Broome diver has the benefit Of
the most up to date inventions; he
wears a complete diving dress and,
relying on a constant supply of air,
remains under water for hours at a
time.
The fleet of pearling luggers, of
which there are now 325, sail at high
tide from their headquarters in
Broome harbor to the shell beds,
some distance off, where they remain
for many weeks without returning to
land. A schooner is stationed on the
ground to act as a general store,
while others schooners ply between
the boats and the shore, bringing
supplies and mails, and returning
with the shell. Quite tiny craft are
these pearly luggers, IL tons only,
for larger boats would hinder the
diver in his movements.
Seven colored men are allowed to
each lugger, five of these forming the
crew, the other two being the diver
and his tender, who for the time be-
ing is the most important man on
board, for every one must obey his
orders instantly. The lugger owners
are white men, but the divers are in
variably Asiatic. A movement is now
on foot to employ Englishmen as
divers at special rates, British navy
men having already been engaged for
this purpose; but it is considered by
experts to be impracticable, as color
ed races stand the deep water bet
ter than Europeans. Malays and
Japanese form the majority of the
divers; although the latter are noted
for their industry and skill, the form
er are better able to stand the press
ure of deep water.
At daybreak the diver commences
work. Donning his dress, screwing his
helmet securely, and grasping his
life line, with which he signals to his
tender, he descends short ladder
and sinks to the ocean bed, where
with few ascents for rest and re-
freshment, he remains till sundown.
On board two men work continually
pumping down air, and the tender,
his hand on the life line, and alert
for the slightest signal, directs the
lugger's course as it drifts in the
wake of the man below. In shallow
water the divers risk is small; he is
secure from sharks, and if careful
avoids the deep holes, which mean
danger; but deep water is another
matter.
Shallow water is counted up to Is
or 16 fathoms and deep water to %
fathoms, or even "a; but in the lat
ter the danger becomes extreme, and
many rash diver has found his
death within his diving dress. The
high pressure can only be borne for
few minutes at time, says M. l..
Pechell in the Field, and many a
man owing to trifle delay has been
brought to the surface, living indeed,
yet destined to wreck for the
rest of his life. Sometimes blind
ness arises from this cause,
more often paralysis, and it is sad
sight to see in Broome Hospital these
poor cripples with their occupation
gone. About 20 divers lose their
lives annually, but many more are
permanently injured.
Skilful divers are much sought af-
ter by the boat owners; during the
season, which lasts for nine months,
an expert man will raise five tons
of shell, sometimes six. His services
are retained during the lying-up sea-
son at Christmas, sums varying from
$50 to 200 pounds being advanced to
a skillful man. While at work the
diver receives 5 pounds per week and
s25 per ton of the shell raised. Shell
is opened on board the schooner and
the opener is a man of Importance,
for, in spite of careful supervision, it
is easy to steal the pearls. He gets
from IS to 10 pounds per month in
addition to 10 per cent. of the value
of the pearls found. The greater
part of the profit arises from the
shell, which at present fetches 226
pounds per ton, but has occasionally
amounted to 400 pounds. The cost
of raising is 100 pounds per ton,
which will, of course, be greatly
increased~if white labor is employed.