Death Of Well-Known

Pearler

MR. MARK AITKIN, a well-known pearler of Thursday Island, Darwin, and the Dutch East Indies, died suddenly recently in Dobo, in the Aroe Islands (off the coast of Dutch New Guinea). Mr, Aitkin was manager of the pearling station of J. B. Carpenter and Company, operating from Darwin. He left Darwin early in January to commence seasonal pearling off the Aru Islands with Carpenter’s fleet. His wife resides in Sydney.

Mr. Aitkin held strong views on the sub ject of Japanese competition. He urged the pearlers, instead of crying for Govern ment help, to beat the Japanese at their own game, by commissioning larger lug gers, carrying four instead of two divers.

He pointed out that the whole Japanese crew took their reward according to the value of the catch. They worked hard and, instead of hanging on and trying to get £lBO per ton for their shell, they took it off at once to Macassar and dumped it on the Chinese market at £6O or £BO per ton.

Mr. Aitkin urged the Australian pearlers to put in bigger ships, and sell their shell more quickly, even if they had to undercut the Japanese. The Australians had all the advantage of location and could “freeze out” the Japanese.

The death of Mr. Aitkin is very untimely.

His vigorous personality will be missed.