Islanders Do Well From Pearling
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
Activities
DURING 12 months activities, a fleet of 31 pearling vessels operated by Torres Strait Islanders, earned £67,547.
The boats won 162 tons of mother-of pearl, worth £53,142, and 228 tons of trochus shell, worth £14,405.
The biggest money was earned by Tanu date by the “Adi Beti.”
Most of the male population of the Torres Strait Islands work in the pearl ing industry. Some own their luggers and others work for pearling companies. For year ended June 30 the islanders’ savings bank accounts increased by £lO,OOO over the previous year’s figure.
Price of pearl shell has dropped, how ever, from over £7OO per ton in 1946 to between £3OO-£4OO, and trochus shell from £l6O to £72. Some believe that the pre sent market is not stable and prices may drop even further.