The Washington times., 1917-02-17
JAPAN CORNERING
flu PEARL SHELL
MonopoIizes Supplies From
Islands to Control the But
ton Market.

SYDNEY, AustraIia, March % (by
maiI).-word comes to Sydney from
the Fiji islands that the japanese
have not only monopolized the
trochas shell supply OF that group.
but are encouraging the ''skinning"
of the reefs, and are thus Indirectly
threatening he destruction OF the
shell output of Fill. Not only 20,
but advices lately received from Bris-
bane are to the effect that the Japa-
nese are seeking to exploit the shell
supply of Thursday island and else
where on the northern side OF the
Australian continent.
In Curious Position. .
"The shell industry Is in a curious
position" writes the Suva (Fiji) cor
respondent OF the Sydney Daily Tee-
graph. Buttons are made out OF
trochas she'll, or, as IL Is termed in the
Fiji islands, sici pronounced see
thee). The industry was started in q
novel manner. Over fifteen years ago
a Frenchman named ~Gespard sent
some of the shells home as curios.
and they came under the notice of a
man in the line who opened negotia-
tions with Gaspkrd, and regular sup
plies were kSom then on sent to
France to be turned into buttons. He
paid the vntutored Fijians 81 or $1-25
per ton in those days, but the pres
ent price in Suva for No. 1 shell. SOC
per ton: No. 2, S147.50; No. 3, S97.5O
The gradation Is according to size.
France and Austria practically mo
nopolized this industry, but the war
caused a change, and II Is doubtful n
any buttons are made nowadays In
France or Austria The trade Is now
a japanese monopoly. All the IDEAL
shell finds its way to Japan, whence
IL Is exported as manufactured
product The price varies consider
ably for reasons not known here.
The shells are found In plentiful num-
bers on the coral reefs surrounding
the (Fiji) islands, and merely have to
be picked up. Enormous quantities
are shipped to Japan by every
steamer.
"The high prices obtained for the
product have caused the natives to
bring in large quantities OF chicken
shell, which is of no commercial val
ue, and IL this conduct is permitted
to continue the reefs will soon be
stripped OF the valuable shell.
~. NJ. Hedstrom, an elected
Of the Fiji Legislative Coun-
ell, who interested himself in the
matter, brought 1t up at the last
of the coupcil, and received
the promise that IL the Suva and lie
vuka chambers of commerce were. of
the same opinion, action would be
taken by the government
Samples of the shell.
THAT gentleman showed your cor
some senples OF the she'll.
The first package contained shell
from 1 inch to Ia inches in diameter,
about forty-five to the
which is of no commercial
value. No 1 shell, from 2 inches TO
inches in diameter. weighs about
i've to the pound, and fetches 500
per ton II the valueless chicken
shell, he said, were allowed to remain
on the reefs for two years. II would
grow to No. L shell, zone ton of 10
would weigh nine tons, and IL would
be worth probably $3.50 instead of
s'Chiclcen' shell from one and one
half to two inchesl in diameter is
worth about S65 OF $40 per ton
locally. One firm shipped last month
ten tons of this shell to
japan, and Il was valued at about
$3.50, free on board. II the shell had
been allowed to remain on the reefs
for about two years II would have
about fifty tons-and been
worth over $4,000.
THE Suva chamber OF commerce
has indorsed Mr.. Hedstrom's plan"
A market having been found in
Japan for Thursday Island trochas
she'll, the scarcity of labor for the in
iustry will be met by engaging Aus
.ralian natives for the work