Torres Strait

Pearls

Memories of James Clark

By James Martin Henry

The decision of the Australian Premiers’

Conference to refer to the North Australian Development Committee a co-operative plan to restore the Torres Strait pearling industry is welcome.

During the war the industry was prac tically non-existent. Now, however according to the Premier of Queensland’ the American market offers £5OO per ton for pearl-shell, and £l5O per ton for trochus shell.

Pearling in North Australian waters has romance and adventure in its his tory. No more daring and colourful figure was engaged in the pearling industry than the late Australian-born pearler, James Clark.

Known as the “Pearl King,” his rise m the pearling world was remarkable.

He was an orphan. His father, master and owner of a cutter which traded to ports north of Sydney, lost his life under tragic circumstances, was away on one of his usual trips when he encountered bad weather, and was knocked overboard by a swinging mainboom.

What young Clark lacked in academic learning, he acquired in leadership, organising and executive ability, deve loped in a hard school. He made a success of everything he undertook.

THE “Pearl King” began life as a plasterer’s boy; but, from his earliest boyhood he loved the sea, and his passion for adventure was stirred by stories of the pearling fleets.

In time he acquired in the pearling industry a partnership with Frank Jar dine. When the partnership disbanded,

Jardine retained half of their fleet, which operated from Somerset (Cape York); and Clark took the other half, working from Thursday Island. He was successful in his new venture, and he increased his fleet, which presently was fishing in Port Darwin and Westralian waters.

Legislation in time considerably ham strung the “Pearl King’s” operations; but he was so well established in the pearling industry that he could change his base at will. And he did. So, under an arrangement with the Netherlands Government, he left Australia and made his headquarters at Dobo, in the Aru Islands.

At that time, the famous Bodillas (wealthy Arabs and notable pearlers) were the concessionaires of the Aru pearling-grounds. But they were out witted by the “Pearl King, ,T ~whose sea manship was as uncanny as it was skilful.

ONE episode is memorable. Antici pating that the Dutch authorities would order a cruiser to pounce on his pearling-fleet, he made an epic dash through reef-infested waters to warn his pearlers of the cruiser’s approach. On another occasion, when ruin—due to over-production—threatened the “Pearl King,” his financial ingenuity and in genious leadership were displayed. He directed his agents in London to adopt certain plans which resulted in the threat being removed.

He continued his pearling career with undiminished success until World War I.

Then he disposed of his magnificent fleet to a Dutch company. He retired to New Farm, Brisbane, almost within sound of the wavelets of the Brisbane River. The “Pearl King’s” old home, of a spacious colonial design, is still the admiration of voyagers up the river.

Clark died on July 9, 1933, after a long illness. He was described as a famous pearler, a noted pastoralist, sportsman and benefactor.