412 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



generally of 60 or 70 boats. The squadrons fish alternately. 

 Each boat has its company, five diving-stones, and two 

 divers to each stone. All the men are numbered as well 

 as the boat, and in the Government shed or platform there 

 are divisions with corresponding numbers, so that each 

 boat knows the precise spot where its oysters are to be 

 deposited. 



"The squadron starts usually between n and 12 at 

 night, so as to reach the fishing ground by sunrise. The 

 banks are about 12 miles from the shore. As soon as the 

 boats have arrived the signal is given, and the diving-stones 

 go over the sides of the boats with a low rumbling noise. 

 One diver goes down with each. The other holds the 

 signal rope, watches the motions of his comrade, draws up 

 first the stone, then the net in which the oysters are lodged 

 as torn from the bank, and then the diver himself. Each 

 pair of divers keep their oysters separate from the rest in 

 large nets or baskets, so that luck and labour determine the 

 remuneration of the pair. 



" When one man is tired the other takes his place ; but 

 they do not dive alternately, as too much time would 

 be lost by changing. The man who has been down, after 

 remaining a minute or so upon the surface, during which 

 he either floats without apparent exertion or holds on by 

 a rope, descends again, and repeats the process, until he 

 requires rest, when he takes his turn on board. This con- 

 tinues without interruption for six hours. Indeed, the 

 stimulus of self-interest brought to bear upon all is so 

 great, that as the time approaches for striking work, the 

 efforts of the men increase, and there is never so much 

 activity as when the heat is most intense, the sky without 

 a cloud, the sun glaring frightfully, and the sea like molten 

 lead. At last the second gun is fired ; every stone goes 



