["Shark's Bay", Perth Gazette and West Australian Times, Friday 05 December 1873, page 3]

SHARKS' BAY.

(From our own correspondent.)

Pearl-seeking is still prosecuted with vigor, and all engaged in it here continue to do well. There are now upwards of sixty boats employed on the banks, and fresh arrivals, more or less severely, bitten with the pearl-mania, continue to pour in from all ports of the colony. The banks yield well, the number of bags collected by the boats averaging from eight to eighteen per diem:--about eighteen bags go to an ounce of pearls. The boats proceed at daylight to the banks, dredge for their loads, which are deposited in heaps on the beach, or, by some, in shallow pits 20ft. by 12ft., and allowed to remain there until the fish is rotten, when they are opened - principally by Malays and aborigines, the olfactory organs of the stoutest European being unequal to the occasion - the fish scraped from the shell, thrown into large tubs, boiled down, and afterwards strained; the pearls remaining at the bottom of the tubs are easily detected, and sorted from the rubbish. Pearl-seeking is certainly a most disgusting occupation; but unless it is entered into in all its branches, it would be useless to expect to find pearls.

The Pearl arrived here on the 7th instant, bringing a goodly number of passengers and a full load of cargo, also two small boats for the pearl-fishery. A small schooner about 3 tons, arrived on the same day, both from Fremantle, via Champion Bay. I regret to have to record that since the arrival of the Pearl our usually quiet little camp (Whiley-more) has been the scene of some disgraceful sights. Inflamed by drink, a great many of the unoffensive pearlers have been exercising themselves in the "noble art," the result of which one has his shoulder bone put out of joint, and another fallen a victim to paralysis, but is recovering. Mr. Broadhurst has, I understand, determined to open a store here, which, undoubtedly, will be a great boon to us, for often after sending for provisions some considerable time before we require them, in the hope that they would ar- rive in good time, we are literally starved out before they arrive, the visits of coasters being few and far between.

The Gipsy, from Roebourne, arrived here on the 17th instant, bringing 20 Malays for Mr. R. Sholl, and reports that the Gift had been recovered by Messrs. G. Roe and J. Watson, and had returned to Roebourne with 25 Malay divers, and had commenced operations outside Flying Foam Passage, where new banks had been discovered. Two vessels from Singapore had arrived with 40 Malays; the Mary Ann with 40; the Water Lily with 20. The Azelia

had collected 7 tons in 3 weeks, and all were in good spirts, and expected to do well. All the shells taken this season will be between Flying Foam Passage and Exmouth Gulf.

A great many persons were suffering from sore eyes, at Roebourne. The only case of death reported is Mr. Thomas Jarvis, of Java fever and ague, at Roebourne. It is the intention of the Nor-west pearlers at the close of the pearling season there to remove to Sharks' Bay, bringing their Malays, which will necessitate some of the boats seeking "fresh fields and pastures new."

The weather has been very hot; strong winds from the Southward. The Gipsy leaves for Fremantle on the 20th instant and the Pearl on the 22nd, the latter taking several passengers and about 12 tons of pearl-shell.

Three small boats arrived on the 17th from Fremantle:--A whale boat, belonging to Mr. J. Bateman, a small cutter, owned by Mr. Jno. Lazenby, and a schooner, the property of Mr. J. Wellby. The Maud arrived from Fremantle to day, the 18th, bringing eight passengers, and one or two pearling-boats. She is to proceed to Roebourne in a day or so.

November 18th.

notes:

An interesting account of the very early days of Shark Bay pearling.

Here, in 1873, the practice of rotting and boiling down the oyster flesh is already established, but the word "pogey" does not appear.