beche-de-mer

Map of Torres Strait, showing route of pearl shell commission, 1908. When it appeared in the Queensland parliamentary papers the full title to this map was, ‘Map of the Torres Strait: showing islands, reefs, passages, and route of pearl shell commission in “Q.G.S. Champion” June 22—30, 1908.’ At the request of the Governor of Queensland, Frederic John Napier, a Royal Commission was ordered to inquire and report upon the working of the Pearl-shell and Beche-de-Mer Industry, with a focus on three things: ‘(1) The working of pearl-oyster beds in such a manner as to avoid depletion and to make the industry regular and permanent; (2) The scientific cultivation of pearl-oysters and the probabilities of success in that direction; and (3) The possibilities of encouraging white divers, with a view to their gradual substitution for aliens in that capacity’. To achieve their tasks the members of the commission travelled to the Torres Strait in June 1908. Between 9 and 20 June they interviewed people on Thursday Island. Between 22 June and 30 June they visited seven islands gathering further evidence. This map shows their journey (marked in red) collecting testimony for the Royal Commission. The detailed inset shows Thursday, Friday, Hammond and Prince of Wales Islands. At the top of Hammond Island the map shows different marks of exploitation, such as ‘crushing machines’ for pearl-shell activity and also a ‘Reserve for Aborigines’. And on Friday Island, there is a leper station. Upon completion the Royal Commission recommended that the pearl-shell and beche-de-mer fisheries were suffering from severe depletion of natural supplies, that scientific cultivation of pearl-oysters could be undertaken, and contrary to their investigative purposes that ‘alien’ divers were better suited to work in the tropics. One of their most drastic recommendations called for the closure of the beche-de-mer industry for two years. ‘Pearl-shell and beche-de-mer commission’, Queensland parliamentary papers, vol 2, 1908. Collection of the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, The University of Queensland