No. 51.— 1900.] 



PEARL FISHERIES. 



173 



The pearling grounds of Australia are leased out to various 

 companies and individuals by the Government. These 

 leases are granted only to approved persons, and are subject 

 to certain important conditions and stipulations. No shell 

 below a certain standard of growth is allowed to be removed 

 from the banks ; and all shell shipped for exportation must 

 be submitted to the inspection of a Government official 

 specially appointed to guard the industry. Pearls may only 

 be purchased by licensed dealers, and the Government 

 reserves to themselves the right to prohibit at any time the 

 collecting of pearls and pearl-shell on any particular part of 

 the coast. A constant guard is maintained over the banks, 

 and certain areas are prescribed by the Inspectors when they 

 have reason to apprehend any danger to the oysters from 

 the results of over-fishing. 



In the Australian fisheries modern diving apparatus is 

 largely employed, the same being periodically inspected by 

 Government in order to prevent the use of defective gear. 

 Diving for pearls by native divers without diving dress 

 seems likely to be discontinued in this region — especially as 

 it is now found that, as a rule, the best pearl oysters flourish 

 at depths beyond the reach of unprotected divers. 



On the whole, these fisheries appear to be conducted upon 

 a more up-to-date and advanced method than elsewhere. 

 Some interesting experiments in cultivating pearl oysters 

 were made by Mr. W, Saville-Kent, F.L.S., late Commissioner 

 of Fisheries to the Government of Queensland and Western 

 Australia ; but the very short period over which his investi- 

 gations extended, and the limited facilities which he enjoyed 

 for the conduct of his research, rendered it impossible for 

 him to achieve results of any value. He however showed 

 that artificial fertilization and incubation are quite possible, 

 though the questions of conservation and protection from 

 enemies still remain to be dealt with.* 



* See Appendix to the Report of the Government Resident of Thursday 

 Island for 1898, by S. Pace, F.Z.S. 

 E 2 



