700 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



The divers dedcend from forty to fifty feet, seventy is the 

 utmost they caii stand. Thirty seconds is the time they 

 usually remain under water, and the best cannot stay longer 

 than a minute and a half. When the fishing ground is reached 

 a staging, built of the oars, is rigged to project from the 

 boat oyer the water, and to the edge of this the diving stoned 

 are hung, weighing from fifty to sixty pounds. The diver 

 stands in a stirrup upon this, or if this is wanting upon the 

 stone itself, holding the cord attached to it between his toes • 



i'KAKL FISflEK IN DANGER. 



with his left foot he holds the net for the reception ot the 

 pearl-oysters. Then, pressing his nostrils firmly with his left 

 hand, and with his right grasping the signal cord, he is let 

 rapidly down to the bottom. As soon as he arrives there, he 

 removes his foot from the stone which is immediately drawn 

 up again. Then throwing himself flat upon the ground, he 

 hastily gathers into his net all the oysters within his reach. 

 When he feels he must return to the surface he pulls the sig 

 na 1 cord with a jerk, ana is pulled up as quickly as possible. 

 A good diver seeks to avoid straining himself, and so stay** 

 tinder water eulj *he shortest time, seldom more than half a 



