NT Pearling Industry

Greek Divers May Save NT Pearling Industry

THE Australian Government is assisting the migration of Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands to Darwin, where it is hoped they will assist the languishing pearshell industry.

The first group of 10 divers was expected in Darwin in early April.

It is expected that more will fol low.

Australian luggers have been manned by Torres Strait islanders and Koepang divers since Japanese divers were banned after the war.

These have been able to win only enough shell to keep the industry alive.

People who have seen the Greek divers at work say that they are good—second only to the Japs.

When diving for sponges, they go to 45 fathoms which is deeper than pearl divers would be asked to go in Northern Territory waters.

Master-pearlers are now optimistic that the use of Greek divers will save the Northern Territory in dustry; they say that if the Greeks are as good as they are reported, the industry will be able to take all who are available and that the Australian luggers might then be able to compete with the Japanese in the production of pearlshell.

Meanwhile, around Thursday Island, master-pearlers are still short of lugger crews for this season, many of the Torres Island ers, who usually engage in the in dustry, already having signed-on on trochus fishing vessels at end of January.

If the labour position does not improve before the opening of the season, end of April, many luggers will be laid up this year.

The diving school proposed last year to train Torres Strait islanders, has not yet been established, due to lack of funds.