Beche-de-Mer Fishing
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
The Industry at Torres Straits
From Our Thursday Island Correspondent
Thursday Is., March 5.
THE two minor marine products that contribute to Thursday Island’s wealth beche-de-mer and trochus shell —are likely to supersede pearling as the main source of industry until the market for M.O.P. looks up, and it is satisfying to know that work in these departments will go on in spite of the slump.
Luggers engaged in this class of work are fitted up to prepare either kind of product, both requiring boiling, and beche-de-mer curing by smoke in addi tion.
The whole length of the Barrier, from its lonely northern tip at Bram ble Cay down to the southern extrem ity, which is below the tropic of Cap ricorn, is ransacked every year by the indefatigible Japs, in charge of the fleet. Besides the main reef there are countless smaller ones, including the famous Warrior Reef, which has yield ed so much treasure to the total export, and also many parts of the mainland beaches give a fertile yield.
The demand for beche-de-mer is always steady, but the price fluctuates in sympathy with the exchange be tween China and Australia. The re cent drop in the Hongkong dollar nat urally resulted in a fall in price, but a slight recovery in the former is record ed, and the dollar is now stationery at 21 to the pound sterling.
Some changes in the organisation of the fishing industry is recorded this year. Only three Japanese are allowed on each lugger, and, as these will be fully occupied with curing and navi gating, more responsibility will be thrown on the native divers, who are notoriously lazy, unless watched.