most
of the pearling fleet. The labor problem and the exhaustion of the
oysters in medium depths developed more quickly in Torres Straits than
on the northwest coast, and diving outfits were introduced there about
1879, while this was delayed about five years longer on the northwest
coast. The outfit did not immediately supplant nude diving in either
locality. In 1883, only 80 of the 206 Queensland vessels were supplied
with scaphanders, the others continuing to use nude diving, and even
yet nearly one third of the vessels depend on that form of fishery. Of
the 353 vessels fishing in 1904, 108 depended on nude divers and 245
were supplied with armored equipment.
In
1881 the Queensland government took cognizance of the rapidly
developing industry, and enacted a license system and other
regulations. For every boat under two tons an annual license fee of £1
(in 1886 this was reduced to ten shillings) was enacted, and for every
vessel of ten tons or under, the sum of £3, with an additional amount
for vessels in excess of that measurement; but not exceeding £20 in any
case.1 In 1886 it was required by the Queensland government
that every person employed "as a diver, and using a diving apparatus,"
must be licensed annually, for which a fee of £1 is exacted.2
And in 1891 it was required that "every diving dress and air-pump and
all air-tubes and gear used in the fishery in connection with diving
must be submitted to an inspector for examination once at least in
every period of six months."3 The license system was adopted
in Western Australia in 1886, a fee of £1 per annum being exacted for
each vessel engaged in the fishery.4 In 1891, South
Australia adopted the license system, requiring that every boat of two
tons or under should pay ten shillings, and that each boat over that
measurement should pay twenty shillings.
With
a view to protecting the reefs, the government of Queensland in 1891
enacted a law forbidding the sale or removal—except for cultivation
purposes—of any pearl shell "of the kind scientifically known as Meleagrina margaritifera, and
of either of the varieties commonly known as 'golden-edged' and 'silver
lip,' of which the nacre or mother-of-pearl measures less than six
inches from the butt or hinge to the opposite edge or lip, but this
does not apply to the variety commonly called 'dwarf-shell.' " 5
Owing to the difficulty in enforcing this regulation, the size
restriction was reduced in 1897 to five inches from the hinge to the
opposite lip, or six and one half inches exteriorly, shells of this
size weighing approximately one pound. It is claimed that many oysters
less than five inches in length are raised, opened for
'45 Victoriae, No. 2. *5° Victoriae, No. 7.
3 50 Victorias, No. 2. °55 Victoriae, No. 29.
*55 Victoriae, No. 29.
