xvii, 299 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm
Summary
History of Queensland pearl-shell industry; role of Melanesians and Torres Strait Islanders, and Japanese in industry; effect of 1884 Native Labourers Protection Act on preventing Aborigines operating in industry except in mission luggers, they were mostly collecting beche-de-mer, Torres Strait Islanders encouraged to participate in pearling until paternalistic government attitudes caused strike of 1936; domination of Japanese in industry practicing resource raiding and mass extraction caused decline of industry; post World War II state and federal authorities made Torres Strait Islander entry into trochus fishery almost impossible