North-ivest Australian Fishery, i6i 



scheme came to an untimely end in the wreck 

 of the " Gothenburg." 



Pearl fishing has perhaps about it a glamour 

 of romance, but in order to bring about successful 

 results, it requires, as much as any other industry, 

 economy and experience. If ever there was an 

 expedition fated to end in disaster it was this : 

 roomy, even-keeled vessels are required, not beau- 

 tiful yachts, and the failure may be said to have 

 occurred in consequence of the expedition having 

 been carried out in " white-kid-glove ** fashion. 



To the southward of the North-West Cape, 

 the smaller Pearl-oyster {Avictila or Meleagrina 

 fiicata) is found in Shark's Bay. Here dredging 

 is carried on, and the oysters are allowed to decom- 

 pose, in order that the Pearls may be more easily 

 secured. It is, however, an industry conducted only 

 on a small scale ; it is not very remunerative, and it 

 presents no features of interest to the general reader. 



From the following statistics of exports, which 

 unfortunately are of necessity incomplete, we may 

 trace the history of the Pearl-shell fishery in Western 

 Australia so far as our data permit : 



Year. Shells, Value. Pearls, Value. 



1862 ;^250 .„. ... — 



1869 6,490 — 



1872 ;^25,890 — 



1873 28,388 ;^6,000 



L 



