THE PEAHL-SHELL EISHERIES. 



91 



"The pearls obtained from, the Queensland pearl-shell 

 fisheries do not, nnder existing conditions, constitute a 

 recognised source of income to the hoat and station owners. 

 The fishery is conducted exclusively for the sake of the shell, 

 and while the pearls obtained belong rightfully to the pro- 

 prietors of the boats, they are so extensively appro2}riatecl by 

 the divers and boats' crews as to have become practically 

 their perquisite. The pearls of Torres Straits are generally 

 represented as being less numerous and inferior in quality in 

 comparison with those of West Australia. At the same time 

 pearls of very considerable value are of by no means rare 

 occurrence in Queensland waters, and the boat and station 

 owners have beyond question a just cause of complaint at 

 being so systematically deprived of their rightful property. 

 It is advocated by many of the boat proprietors that stringent 

 regulations should be enacted, restricting the trafiic in pearls 

 to licensed agents only. 



" The' average price realised for pearl-shell is £125 per ton 

 gross, or £100 net, y.diile the common all-round price at "which 

 the shell is bought in by leading mercantile firms stationed at 

 Thiu^sday Island is £90 per ton. In former years the price for 

 shell of good quality ranged as high as £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. Twenty years ago, immediately previous to the 

 discovery of the West Australian shelling grounds, prices as 

 high as £16 and £20 per cwt., or from £320 to £100 per ton, 

 were realised for the best Manilla shell. At the present time 

 the best shell in the market is obtained from Torres Straits." 



The following are the names and owners of vessels regis- 

 tered at the Port of Sydney, IS^ew South Wales, engaged in 



