["Pearling Industry", Geraldton Guardian (WA), Friday 23 August 1907, page 2]
Pearling Industry.
Mr. C. F. Gale, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, in his annual report, refers as follows to the pearling industry in the North-West and Sharks Bay:--
...
NORTH-WEST PEARLING.
During the year 3,076 tons 14cwt. of pearl-shell, with a declared value of £140,808, have been exported from the State. Although these figures show a decrease of 217 tons 19cwt. over those of 1905, the decrease in value was only £5,417. Taking the value of pearls obtained at an approximate estimate of £60,000, the industry represents a total of £200,808 for the year. From returns supplied to me from the licensing officers at Broome, Cossack, and Onslow, 25 schooners with a tonmage of 1,405, and 320 luggers with a tonnage of 3,816, were licensed under The Pearl Shell Fishery Act, 1886. The number of male adults employed in the industry may be put down at 2,500. The following has been the average net value of shell per ton to shipper at Broome f.o.b., after deducting local exchange, freight, and London and local charges during the years 1902, £197 10s; 1903, £143; 1904, £104; 1905, £107; 1906, £125. Although the pearling industry of our northern waters is still in a fairly flourishing condition, the average per working lugger is much lower than it was in the earlier days of the industry, when operations were carried on in comparatively shallow water with naked divers. These grounds have, to a very great extent, been worked out, and pearlers have to depend on the supply from greater depths; the limit being, approximately, 20 fathoms in which operations can be carried on, and but few divers venture to shell in deeper water. The unworkable ground, of which there is a great extent, will always act as a huge reserve from which the shallower waters will be restocked; so that there will be little danger of the supply being altogether depleted. Provided the shell market improves, or keeps to its present value, I do not think there will be any further falling off in the number of boats now shelling; but what prices will be in the future it is impossible to say, and if the market falls below £100 per ton, the industry will be very seriously affected. Other countries are turning their attention to the scientific investigations of the pearl-shell molluscs, with a view of improving their own pearling industries, and the time must come sooner or later, when artificial cultivation must give place to the present methods of obtaining shell. Desultory experiments have been made in different parts of the world without much conspicuous success. If, however, proper methods are adopted, and these will eventually be proved, and suitable localities chosen, there is no reason why the pearl-shell could not be cultivated in immense numbers, the same as the edible oyster, in many parts of the world, which gives employment to thousands of persons, and a permanent flourishing industry maintained.
An important matter agitating the minds of those engaged in the industry is the illicit trafficking in pearls, and they are crying out for restrictive legislation to stop the evil. The whole question is one brimful of difficulties. Legislation, to be effective, would require sufficiently drastic measures as to interfere with the liberty of the subject, before a complete stop could be put to the practice. Efforts
were made during last session to amend the Police Offences Bill in the dirertfon of making it an offence to be in possession of a pearl or pearl suspected of being stolen. The Bill, however, got no further than the Select Committee stage. As much, if not more, illicit trafficking takes place at sea as on land, and as long as a 'snide buyer,' as they are locally called, owns a licensed boat and operates himself on the pearling grounds, it is impossible to prove anything against him, provided he is not given away by those selling to him; a contingency seldom, if ever, happening.
