CHAPTER V. 



PEARL MD PEHRL-SHELL FISHERIES, 



The pearl and pearl-shell fisheries of Queensland occupy a prominent position among the most 

 important commercial industries of that colony. An approximate estimate of their worth may be 

 gained by a reference to the following table, extracted from the official statistics, such extract indi- 

 cating the relative values of the ten leading Queensland exports for the five years 1884 to 1S88. — 



Statistical Table Showing the Value of the Ten Leading Queensland Exports. 



• Tortoise-shell, having an annual export value of from .,^400 to ;^5oo only, is included with the sum representing Pearl-shell 

 in the original statistical table quoted. 



The foregoing statistical table shows that pearl-shell has occupied a position fluctuating 

 between that of the sixth and the eighth on the list of the most important exports, for the period 

 quoted; its average annual value for the last five years being ^^69,000. Concerning the other 

 fisheries of the colony, the two next most important, those of the ordinary oyster and Beche- 

 de-mer, produce annually a total value representing collectively little less than half of that 

 realised by the pearl-shell fishery, the average export value for the five successive years 



