High Pearl Shell Prices

From Our Brisbane Correspondent LURED by the tales of adventure in the South Seas, and big money at present offering in the pearling in dustry, Cliff Conroy (an ex-Army Ser geant) of Brisbane, recently purchased a 48ft lighter at the Colmslie Naval Depot Sale for £5lO. He said he intended converting the vessel into a pearling lug ger and would employ two experienced native divers.

There is reported to be a shortage of pearling boats—no new ones have been built for six years. Consequently, double the usual price has to be paid for any boat of quality.

Reports indicate that Australians are using boats which have been left over by the Dutch Government. Some pearl shell is fetching up to £650 a ton!