THE PEARL FISHERIES OF AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 327, 8 December 1875, Page 4

THE PEARL FISHERIES OF AUSTRALIA.

4 The Melbourne Daily Telegraph Baye: — Wiih diamonds, gold, and pearls, Australia is certainly well furnished to Supply the world with treasures. The latest news from the latest workingß— ihe pearl-beds of North-west Australia —are on the whole encouraging. Not only are prodigious pearls there, but the meapß of working the fisheries, in the ahape of accomplished divers are present, Some curious facts are to b 8 noted. The Malays, who are in such demand at Ceylon, are (says the special correepoaieot of the ■ Perth Inquirer) at a discount. They are untractable, and not particularly expeit, while the . jriortiality among them is something fearful. The Asiatics from the Line Island* are preferred, as most obedient and more hardy under water, but the lucky pearl fisher is declared to be he who can secure a crew of Australian featives. Ten natives are described as better (ban twenty Malays, and as they cost very little in hire, some of their employers this last season have made little fortunes. The consequence is that that the natives are being whipped upland it is alleged that they are not allowed to make bargains for themselves btft are transferred to different owners; and that a state of things is growiDg up that calls for interference. And though pearl fishing seems romantic in the abstract, there is far too much nigger-driving about the occupation .to commend it to the minds of refinement. The thirst for sheila, for pearls,— for success, in fact—brutalises and ucehriatiftnises the pearling speculation of diver. Excitement in the- occupation is ever at the stretch, from Sunday room to Sunday morn. No day is respected. No dark man's life is valued in economising of that life, but the utmost amount of diving must be sucked out of the men, kill or hot; for who knows who will be his owner next season. The Ceylon fisheries are under Soveroment inapeo-

tion, and there the day'a work commences with the firing of the gan at a certain turn of the tide — near low Water ebb— aad lasts for three hours daily. This amount of tabor under water ia found to mean early and certain death to the divers; but the Auetralian divers are kept at work from morn until eve, and we can readily believe, therefore, the correspondent's statement that the lists of deaths would appal every right-minded man. One statement is made suggestive of the strange perils that beset the pearl diver. Next season the fleet will work high up the coast, and the Milaye are expected to have the call, as they are more used 10/tneetiog with alligators."