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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 52

Pearl-Shell and Beche de mer

Pearl-Shell and Beche de mer.

For many years Western Australia has been reaping rich harvests from the pearl-shell fishery, which has been prosecuted on the north-west coast from North-west Cape to King's Sound. Roebuck Bay is during the season a depot for many small vessels engaged in this pursuit, and Cossack, the port of Roeburn, is the head-quarters of the fishery. From my own knowledge of this industry, I feel assured that pearl-shell will be found along the whole of the Kimberley coast. Formerly Malays, from Macassar, were employed as divers, but now the Australian native is preferred. The divers work during the summer months, and at the close of the season are paid off, and return with their employers to the sheep stations, where they rejoin their tribes, or are employed as shepherds, shearers, &c. The Holothuria, trepang, or bêche de mer, abounds on the banks and reefs off the coast; turtle, dugong, and even sperm whales are to be found; and now that stores and supplies can be obtained at the new settlement, I have no doubt that vessels properly fitted out will soon be employed in the fishery.

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For young men fond of adventure, who would seek profit on the deep sea, where in all the world is there to be found a virgin field to compare with the coast of Kimberley?

Squatters and capitalists in the sister Colonies, with the slight knowledge that they possess of this new land, look with coldness upon settlement in so remote a corner. The reports of the country furnished by Gregory and Forrest they considered mere opinions of explorers, and not to be relied upon as to the suitability of the country for stock. They wanted opinions and reports of men accustomed to sheep-farming. Now that such opinions have been received, and that the pasture lands of Kimberley are pronounced equal to the best of Australia, the objection urged is "no market for the stock." To this objection I am not now going to reply, and I feel assured that those settlers who are showing their faith in the Kimberley by pouring in sheep and cattle to stock their runs will not deem it necessary to do so. Time will show.

In this paper I have endeavoured to give you a faithful sketch of the geographical position, features, and resources of this new district. It will be seen that we have in Kimberley as good a field for the enterprising pioneer as has yet been offered since the foundation of the Australian Colonies—rich soil on navigable rivers inviting the planter, well-watered pastures awaiting the flocks and herds, and almost inexhaustible pearl-shell beds for the adventurous fisherman. When suitable sites for towns have been selected, settlement will open up new routes for commerce. Steam communication will be established with our Australian ports and with the settlements in the Archipelago, and the geographical position of Kimberley will then be found to be second to none of the Australian Colonies. A glance at the map of Australia will show you that the available country suitable for pastoral settlement, having similar pastures and climate, extends from the north-west of Queensland from Aramac, via Winton and the Upper Herbert, across to Sturt's Creek, and along the valley of the Fitzroy to Roebuck Bay. When we see the capitalists of the world eager to invest their money in the construction of main commercial high-ways, am I not justified in concluding that in a few short years Kimberley will become the western terminus of our transcontinental railway system, and may sooner than we expect be ranked the "Pearl of the Antipodes?"

Mr. O'Donnell, the explorer, was introduced to the meeting by Mr. Panton, and answered several questions as to the district under consideration.