that
he was clearly seen from the surface. After he touched bottom at that
great depth, he calmly picked over the coral and shells to select a piece to bring up.1 The diver was ready to go down again only a few minutes after he came up.
In
his work on French Oceanica, Chartier states : "There are three women
well known in the archipelago [of Tuamotu] who have no equals
elsewhere; they explore the depth at twenty-five fathoms and remain not
less than three minutes before reappearing at the surface." 2
However, these unusual depths and extensions of time are dangerous, and
care must be taken or serious results follow. Most of the catch is
obtained in about ten fathoms of water.
At
the request of the writer, Mr. Julius D. Dreher, American Consul at
Tahiti, made inquiries among the South Sea Islands in regard to the
record of the best divers, and wrote as follows :
Mr.
J. L. Young, who has lived in these islands for thirty years, informs
me that he has never seen a diver remain under water longer than 80
seconds, and that at a depth of twelve to fifteen fathoms. At one time
he tested a man who claimed to be able to stay under for three minutes,
yet this man could hold his breath on land less than 80 seconds by the
watch.
Elder
Joseph F. Burton, who has spent many years as a missionary in these
islands, states that once in Hikueru, of the Tuamotu group, he went out
in a boat with the divers to time them. The best record made was 107
seconds, but he was informed that there were better divers on the
island than those he tested. He thinks the water was ten to twelve
fathoms in depth. A native of Takaroa, named Metuaro, told Mr. Burton
that he could stay under water three minutes or longer. When these
divers come up they take a breath and immediately put their head under
water to prevent headache.
Mr.
J. Lamb Doty, formerly Consul and now Vice-Consul at Tahiti, who has
spent eighteen years here, is willing to be quoted as affirming that he
once timed a diver who remained under water 2 minutes 35 seconds.
Mr.
Henry B. Merwin, a leading trader with the Tuamotu Islands, is willing
to be quoted as saying that he saw a diver remain under water 4 minutes
45 seconds by the watch. This is generally regarded, so far as my
inquiries go, as improbable ; but most persons interviewed believe that
men do remain under water 2γ2 to 3 minutes. A
native of Takaroa, named Tai, assured me in the presence of others that
there were twenty men in that island who could remain under water 2^
to 3 minutes at a depth of twenty fathoms. He claimed to be able to
stay 3 minutes at that depth.
Diving-suits,
or scaphanders, have been used at most of the South Sea Islands, but in
a very irregular manner. In 1890 the use of scaphanders was restricted
in the Tuamotu group, and by decree of De-
1 Alexander, "Report United States Fish 2 "Tahiti et les Colonies Françaises de la
Commission," Vol. XXVII, p. 764. Polynésie," Paris, 1887, p. 173.
