Japs Back for 1954 Pearling
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
THE Japanese pearling fleet arrived at a point near the North Arnhem Land coast (North Australia) on June 4, for this season’s pearling. The season usually lasts from April to No vember; the Japs are late this year.
The Chief Pearling Inspector had a rendezvous with the fleet soon after it arrived and issued each lugger captain with a pearling licence and details of how the Commonwealth Pearl Fisheries Act (passed in 1953) will affect them.
The fleet consists of 25 luggers, a mother ship and a Government inspection vessel. They may not £ ake , rt s ii ell in ex °ess of their haul for 1953—about 1,000 tons.
Australian luggers, based on Dar win, brought in only 170 tons in the same period in 1953. Some re cently-arrived Greek sponge-divers are working with the Australians this year and it is hoped that these might prove the answer to the Japs