POACHERS CAUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1930, Page 5

POACHERS CAUGHT

PEARLERS OFF AUSTRALIAN . COAST. f SYDNEY, July 7. According to a message from Darwin reports Have been current there thaS Malay pearlers from Timor and other islands to the north of Australia have again been poaching on the pearling' grounds to the east and west of Darwin. The local pearlers and trepnng fishers naturally resent the annual visits of the poachefs, who, however, are able to carry on in safety since there is not a single police patrol boat on the whole of the coast. The poachers fill up, with valuable shell and trepang, pay no taxes or license fees, and their crews receive only “cpolie’ J wages, and are fed on a very low scale compared with the local men.

Some time ago one of the pearlers—a well-known character in the north, found a new field, a rich patch of shell along the coast, and he made elaborate preparations to work it. His lugger was fitted with engines, the divers were fitted with air compressors, and a rich return was expected when the little flotilla set sail. But the poachers from the north had already, discovered the patch. By communicating with the blacks on shore, the irate pearling skipper, who was an Irishman with a good war record, learned that the poachers had worked out his ‘ patch with a fleet of five luggers and had cleaned up the job “before the last moon,” and had sailed away again to the north, This was too muoh for the Irishman and he decided to make sail in search of the poachers, After about four hours the look-out man reported them to be ahead, under crowded sail, headed due north. These Malay craft are built for speed, but the Irishman, with his screw propellor, soon overhauled them. Shortly before coming up with the Malays lie went below, and presently be reappeared clad in his uniform, with his medals showing on Ills breast. Another white member of his crew donned a faded khaki uniform, and each carried a heavy automatic. As they overhauled the Malays a boat was lowered, and with a military bearing the Irishman proceeded to “arrest” tlie master of the poachers in proper form. The craft was first searched fore firearms, which were thrown overboard, and then the Malays were compelled to empty the whole of their shell into the Irishman’s lugger.