PEARLING AT BROOME
DECLINE OF INDUSTRY TOO STRENUOUS FOR WHITES “The pearling Industry no longer enjoys the prosperity of pre-war days,” said Mr. W. Lingford, of Western Australia, who arrived by the Marama this morning. “Germany was the buyer of our shell, and she is only now commencing to make he teappearance in the markets.” Before the war the pearling fleet at Broome numbered 300 vessels, but now the decline of the industry only warrants the use of 99 luggers. The men who dive for the sheH are Japanese, who are brought out from Singapore for a term of three years. The endurance of these men is remarkable, as they work in nearly 30 fathoms of water for 36 hours a week, during nine months in the year. After the war six British divers were brought out to the pearl fields, but the conditions were too severe and all died after a month or two of the work. Mr. Lingfield will spend two months travelling in New Zealand, after which he and a companion will fit out a vefr sel at Darwin and sail on a voyage ol exploration in the Northern Pacific.
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 12
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193PEARLING AT BROOME Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 12
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