BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 433 



Vol. \ I, l¥o. 28. IVashin^toii, ». C. ITIar. 24, 1 887. 



136.— THE PEARL, FISHERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



By Coustil G. TT. GKIFFIN. 



The pearl-shell fisheries of Torres Strait belong to the colony of 

 Qneenslaud, and are situated 1,500 miles from Brisbane and more than 

 2,000 miles from Sydney. Torres Strait is about 80 miles in width, 

 and separates Queensland from the island of New Guinea. The navi- 

 gation of the strait, although said to be safe and i)racticable, is in fact 

 very difldcult, on account of the innumerable islands, reefs, and shoals 

 scattered about. The chief places at which the fisheries are conducted 

 are Wai Weer, Al])any Island, Jervis Island, Endeavor Strait, Friday 

 Island, Prince of Wales Islands, and Possession Island. 



Wages of the men. — A good diver can earn from $60 to $150 per 

 month. He usually signs shipping articles for a period not exceeding 

 three j'ears, at a fixed sum per month and an interest in the catch or 

 lay. Mr. Bayne, of Sydney, the owner of an important station at 

 Prince of Wales Islands, who for many years has been engaged in 

 pearl-shell fishing, states that several divers in his employ have earned 

 as much as $300 per month. The divers and crews are composed of 

 South Sea Islanders, Malays, and a few Chinese and Lascars. 



The diver is the captain of the boat, and the other men obey his 

 orders. The duties of the tender consist in waiting on the diver, help- 

 ing him to dress, and looking after him while in the water. The pay 

 of the tender is from $10 to $12 per month, with a small interest in the 

 catch, generally from one-sixtieth to one-eightieth part of the value of 

 the shells. Each of the vessels generally has one diver and four tend- 

 ers, who compose the crew. The tenders are engaged on regular ship- 

 ping articles, and are paid off like any other merchant seamen. 



Mr. Henry M. Chester, the resident magistrate at Thursday Island, 

 says, in a recent report on the fisheries, that the natives are never over- 

 worked, and that they are always well fed and kindly treated. He 

 further says that payment is usually made them in blankets, clothing, 

 knives, hatchets, and beads, and that whenever they are dissatisfied 

 with w^hat they receive they seek other employment. Mr. Chester is 

 of opinion that the competition for their services is of such a character 

 as to secure for them fair treatment. All the available adult popula- 

 tion of the island are employed as swimming divers, under "the mas- 

 ters and servants' act," and while their pay is small, it is made in the 

 presence of the local authorities, and all the old men, women, and 

 children receive food in seasons of scarcity. Mr. Chester admits, how- 

 ever, that the occupation of a diver is dangerous and not at all condu- 

 cive to longevity, but adds that the loss of life amo2g the natives from 

 Bull. F. C. m 28 



