PEARL AND PEARL-SHELL FLSHERIES. 207 



all the pairs of shells as they are naturally attached must weigh not less than 2 lb. or 3 lb. each. 

 Any pairs short of this weight have other shells added, until the standard weight is arrived at. 

 In the case of very small shell, it may take three pairs, or six shells, to make up the 3 lb., or 

 even seven pairs to complete 6 lb., or a standard two pairs, which are usually weighed in at once. 

 _^200 per annum, in addition to his rations, represents a fair a\'erage income for a diver. 



The size, weight, and quality of the pearl-shell obtained from different localities varies 

 materially, while, owing to the considerable depletion of certain of the most readily accessible 

 fishing grounds, the average standard of size and weight is much lower than in former years. 

 Large shell weighing 6, 7, or even 8 lb. the pair, representing from 300 to 400 pairs to the ton, is 

 still to be got at Mangrove Island and Wappa, towards the New Guinea coast, and was formerly of 

 common occurrence throughout the Strait. At the present time shell weighing 3 or 4 lb. per 

 pair, or from 550 to 700 pairs to the ton, is regarded as fine shell, while the more ordinary yield 

 averages from 800 to 1,200 pairs to the ton, representing from 2 to 2J;j; lb. per pair. A very 

 considerable quantity of shell was, until quite recently, brought in weighing from i lb. to as little 

 as 5 or 6 oz. only per pair — that is, from 2,240 to over 6,000 pairs to the ton. As recognised by 

 all of the more experienced and enlightened members of the trade, this wholesale destruction of 

 the immature shell was very seriously impairing the productiveness of the fishery ; and hence, at 

 their own instigation, an Act of Parliament has been recently passed, prohibiting the taking of 

 shell, with certain exceptions, having a less diameter than seven inches outside measurement, or 

 six inches across the pearly lining or " nacre." 



Regarding the quality and present value of Queensland pearl-shell, the following quotations 

 have been supplied by the manager of one of the principal shelling stations : — 



Very best shell ... ... ^8 17 6 per cwt. = ^177 10 per ton. 



Good shell ... ...6150 ,, = 135 o „ 



Second quality ... ... 4 10 o ,, =^ 90 o ,, 



Poor ... ... ...300 ,, = 60 o ,, 



The average price now realised on the fishing grounds in Torres Strait is .^125 per ton gross, 

 or ;^ioo net, while the common all-round price at which the shell is bought in by leading mercan- 

 tile firms stationed at Thursday Island is £^0 per ton. In former years the price for shell of 

 good quality ranged as high as .1^200 per ton ; the shell itself was more readily accessible and 

 obtained at less cost, and the profits in the trade were consequently much more considerable. 

 A little over twenty years ago, immediately before the discovery of the West Australian 

 shelling grounds, prices as high as £\b and ^'20 per cwt., or from ^320 to .^400 per ton, were 

 realised for the best Manilla shell. At the present time the best shell in the market is obtained 

 from Torres Strait. 



The specific form of pearl-shell yielded by Queensland waters and so far utilised for commer- 

 cial purposes is the Meleagrina margaritifera, L., or typical mother-of-pearl, and pearl-producing 



