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PEARL FISHERIES
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All things
considered, the largest and best equipped fisheries in the world to-day
are those on the coast of Australia. Not as many pearls are found as at
Ceylon. The main object of fishing is the shell, which is large, heavy,
and furnishes the best quality of mother-of-pearl of the white variety.
From Charlotte's Bay on the north-eastern coast, all along the northern
coast and around to Exmouth Gulf on the western coast, pearl-oysters
are abundant. Farther south at Sharks Bay, the oysters are smaller and
the pearls, though of good shape and luster, run yellow. Shells from
the coast of Queensland are sold as Sydney shell; those from the
northern territory of South Australia, as Port Darwin shell, and from
there to Exmouth Gulf on the western coast, they are marketed as West
Australian shell.
The
fishing is carried on by organized companies having capital, and every
modern appliance of practical value is utilized. The divers fish with
the dress. The usual method of fishing is for a schooner of eighty to
one hundred tons to put out with a number of luggers of from eight to
ten tons. Each lugger
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