THE EXPERIENCES OF A DIVER.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 88, 30 January 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE EXPERIENCES OF A DIVER.

♦ Till; quality that a diver uceds more than any oilier is prasenco of mind. Without a man rossesses this lie should never enter 11 diving suit, for if there is any place in the world whore one wants a clear head it, is under water. There is an uncanny feeling about the bottom of the sea, a lonesomeneSs that causes one to start at the sudden appearance of a dark mass of rook or the unexpected touch of the sea finger, and a vague feeling of apprehension that something may come out of the blue of the distance. Far removed from actual communication with othor human beings, in a vast, strange world, where every form is so different from earthly conditions that it seems unnatural; living under an abnormally high pressure, which in itself uiters tho aspect of things, the senso of loneliness, combined with a certain dread, is at times awful. The timid man on earth may keej) up his spirits with a. lively whistle, but: a diver cannot even do this, as, for some reason, it. is not possible to whistle inside a diving dress. He may hum or sing, to bo sure, only that takes too much breath, to his own quialc breathing and the distant thump of the pump above. Neither can diving be called a healthy occupation. Deafness, incipient paralysis, and rheumation are common features ; while divers with any inclination towards lung or hen it disease live but a few mouths. The bete no'ir of Australian pearl fisheries, however are tha terrible cyclones that yearly visit tho coast. To these is due the loss of move property and the death of more divers than all the other causes combined. Sharks are not nearly so black as they arc painted. Though plentiful, and with a decided liking for native divers, they have never Ikch known to attack a man in a dress. In spite, of this fact, one cannot help feeling frightened when one comes face to face with this tiger of the sea ; particularly when, through the magnification of the water and the face glass, the fish is almost doubled in size. One's first thought upon seeing a shark is to bo pulled up or to take to your heels ; but. as fish have sufficient human nature about them to want a thing as soon as they see it being taken away, it i 3 safer to stind perfectly still. In fear that my bare hands might attract the man eating propensity that sharks are supposed to have, I invariaby tucked then: carefully under my breastweight, and when the fish had disappeared gave the signal to ascend, kicking violently all the way up. If a diver remains quiet he is quickly surrounded by an admiring crowd of fish, opening their eyes and mouths like curious countrymen. The smaller ones have assurance enough to nibble at his lingers ; but let him throw up hi< arms, and with a flourish of tails they vanish. As the pearling fleet is dependent to a certain extent upon fish for food, the diver never misses an opportunity to bag anything edible. Crayfish are easily caught, and make quite an agreeable addition to the ordinary diet. Turtles, too, uro plentiful, and being fiesh meat are valued more than fish. The memory of my first tussle with one. of these animals (says H. Phelpt Whitworth in the Strand Magazine) is impressed very vividly on my mind. I had been told to approach the ereatur? quietly from behind, grasp the edges of the shell, lift it quickly to my chest, and give tha signal to be pulled up. By sodoing I was given to understand that the turtle's head, beirg pointed upward, could nut move in any other direction; and that, therefore, the journey to the surface would be a short; one, as the turtle's flipper* would be powerful enough to take me up without any other aid. Accordingly, when I saw my first turtle fc■.•ding quiot'y on a patch of seagrass soaie distance ahead, I made a circuitouD path and crept cautiously up behind it. By the size of tho barnacles on its back 1 knew it was on old one, and it looked tiemenduus ; but I put that down to the face-glass, When I was within a few yards of game, whether it was the bubbles fr an my escape valve or the heavy tread of my 32-poundcr3 that scared it, is a question ; but suddenly up shot the turtle head. I ducked immediately behind a sponge growth and crouched there with beating heart, fearing that nij- opportunity was gone. In a few moments lie resumed eating, and without waiting for further developments, I made a ruu and a jump and landed fairly on the turtle's back. In stretching out my bauds to got under the shell I must, have tumbled. Before I had a chance to raise tho monster I felt my feet being dragged over the bottom, and a moment later I awolio ti» the fact that my intended eapturo had captured me, and was swimming away with me at astonishing speed. Away wo weut, the turtle trying to loave mo behind and I banning on with might and main. In vain I tried to point tho old fellow's head towards the boat—ho would have none of it. Drop, I dire not ; for the bottom was out of sight, and I feared I should fall heavily. Signal I could not. my bands wore very much engaged. While in his state of uncertainty we c line to the end of our tether—the limit of the life-line. Then there was a sudden jerk, and we parted company. The turtlo continued on his way, and I feel headlong down. Luckily I struck ou a largo sponge growth, nud thus broke 1113' foil ; but I. was a good deal shaken up, and was hauled up looking very Reedy and feoling suro that it would bs a long time before I tackled another turtle. Fishing on tho bottom is carried on to quite an extent. Leaving one end of the line in charge of a " boy " on deck, the diver descends with hook and bait and conceals himself among the rocks or sea growths. lu;4ead of dropping his hook, after tho usual method of fishermen, ho floats it 11 few feet above his head bymeans of a piecs of wood brought down for tho purpose. If a shark or other objectionable fish heaves in sight, lie hauls down bis colours in double-quick time ; but if it bo a rock cod, a schnapper, or any of the large ediblo fish which live in those waters, ho tightens up his escape valve for a minute, lest a bubble frighten the fish, mid hangs on to the line with both bands. As soon as tho fish has the hook fairly in its mouth, a sharp pull hooks it, and at a signal to tho •' boy " above, tho big fellow goes struggling to the surface. One of the most ludicrous and yet annoying things that lvippen to a diver is the discovery that a fly or other insect has been screwed up inside the dress. It is bad enough for his nose to itch and he unable to scratch [it, or for him to find something in his eye and he without means of taking it out ; but when a fly that has been concealed in some part of the dress bogius to ciawl jdoliberutely over his face, and play hide-and-seek up his nostrils, it is simply maddening, It is useless to butt the faoo-glasa or wildly knock your head against the inside of the helmet, er to made hideous faces, for all this only tends to make the insect more lively, and hurries it, in its excitement, into your ear or elsewhere. Tho only thing to be done in such a cuso is to shut eye: and mouth as closely as can be, and give the signal to ascend,

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