BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 325 



The most important pearl fisheries iu Queensland are in the hands of 

 Sydney cai)italists. The fisheries are carried on by Malays, who dive 

 to a depth of G fathoms. The pearl-oyster from Torres Strait generally 

 weighs from 3 to 6 pounds, and sometimes as much as 10 pounds. 



The value and weight of the mother-of-pearl exported from Queens- 

 land was as follows : 



The pearl fisheries on the northwest coast of Australia employ, a 

 large number of Malays and natives as divers. The fisheries last from 

 the end of September till the end of March. It has not yet been pos- 

 sible to ascertain the extent of the beds ; it is supposed, however, that 

 they extend as far as the Gulf of Carpentaria. The fisheries are carried 

 on for the shells, but frequently yield pearls of considerable value. 

 These shells are the best which are known. They weigh from 1 J to G 

 pounds a pair. The export duty is 72 crowns [$19.30] per ton. The 

 oldest fisheries iu West Australia are carried on in Sharks Bay. The 

 shells which are caught here are those of the uiricula margaritifera. 

 They are very thin, but their inside surface is transparent and has a 

 beautiful pearl-like luster. At present they fetch a good price at Havre. 

 Formerly they were but little esteemed on account of their thinness, and 

 for this reason they were taken principally on account of their pearls. 

 These have a brilliant luster, although they are not larger than a pea. 

 The oysters are caught with a wire drag-net, which is drawn across the 

 beds, and which piles them iu a heap ; thereby the moUusk is killed, and 

 the shells are easy to open. The West Australian pearl fisheries in- 

 crease from year to year. In 1874 mother-of-pearl was exported to the 

 value of 1,000,707 crowns [8284,269.48], and pearls worth 108,000 crowns 

 [•$28,944]. In 1876 there were exported to London 140 tons, and to 

 Singapore 67 tons, the price varying from 4,500 to 4,810 crowns [81,206 

 to 81,297.12] per ton. Recently the English papers have reported the 

 discovery of pearls and mother-of-pearl near Kew Zealand. 



Diving for pearls is one of the principal employments for the natives 

 of the Pacific Ocean. Here, likewise, mother-of-pearl is the principal 

 object of the fisheries. The oysters live in large colonies, close together, 

 and are firmly attached to each other ; they are attached to the bottom 

 by a ligament or band, starting from their body and running through 

 the shell. In the live animal this band is of a dark green, and some- 

 times gold-bronze color, and the fishermen can tell from its color whether 



