INTRODUCTORY. 



|HE Great Barrier Coral Reef of Australia, the marvellous structure 

 and extent of which were first made known to the world through 

 the explorations of Captain Cook, is one of the wonders of the 

 universe. Its linear measurement is no less than 1,250 miles, be- 

 ginning with its northern origin in Torres Strait, about 9^° south 

 latitude, in close proximity to New Guinea, and thence stretching 

 away as far as Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost true coral islet 

 in the sj'stem, situated in the parallel of 2^°, somewhat south of 

 the bold mainland promontory known as Bustard Head. Its whole area, as shown by the 

 foregoing data, lies entirely within the territorial jurisdiction of Queensland, of which colony 

 it constitutes, in esse and in posse, one of the most valuable possessions. Some idea of the 

 monetary importance to Queensland of the Great Barrier Coral Reef area may be gained from 

 the fact that raw material to the value of over _^ 100,000 is obtained annually from the reefs 

 and the intervening waters, and exported from the colony. This sum, moreover, probably 

 represents but a fractional portion of what it will be worth when the prolific resources of the 

 region have been fully developed. The items which have contributed in the past, and are 

 likely to contribute in the future, most extensively towards the production of the substantial 

 figures quoted are the pearl and pearl-shell and the Trepang (or Beche-de-mer) fisheries. 

 These are capable of development to an almost unlimited extent, and in addition to them 

 there are other fishing and allied industries which await but the advent of scientifically 

 applied labour, and the necessary capital, to yield a rich increase to the Colony's wealth. 



The extreme linear measurement of the Great Barrier Reef along the Queensland 

 coast-line approximates, as above recorded, to no less than 1,250 English miles. The dis- 

 tance from the mainland to the outer edge or boundary of this gigantic reef, or (more 

 correctly) series of reefs varies somewhat in different districts. From Cape Weymouth, 

 in the latitude of 12^°, to the Trinity Opening, i6^° south, or an extent of 240 geographical 

 miles, the average distance of the Barrier's outer edge from the mainland does not exceed 



