A Cape York adventure led to the discovery of a number of glass balls. Once used by Japan's fishermen to keep fishing nets afloat. They were to become a prized catch of their own and stay with us for over 40 years.
Traveling to Cape York in far north Queensland in the early 70's was not as easy as it is today. Everywhere my newly married husband and I went was a series of off-road driving adventures. Leaving the rough, though well worn track we threaded our way towards the coast. Our main objective being get to many of the isolated beaches along the eastern coastline. Those were the early days when tracks were made where there were no roads to be found.To say that huge amounts of bush-bashing and off-road driving was undertaken during our early Cape York expeditions would not be an exaggeration.
Cape York Adventure
Arriving at the coast we found ourselves confronted by stretches of long white sandy beaches. It was while walking many of these deserted beaches that Brian and I stumbled across a number of glass balls. They were strewn along the high tide mark of the far northern beaches and backwaters of mangrove forests. Even then we realised these balls represented a link to trawl net fishing. Many of the balls still had thick cord or rope nets encircling them. Japanese fishermen working in the waters of the Pacific use the floats to secure their long lines. Often, the balls are cut loose when the lines are hauled back into the boat.
A number of these coloured balls were collected, filling every nook and cranny of our long-wheel-base Four wheel drive. We later used many of them as decorations around our patio and BBQ area. On returning to Cairns, it was discovered that our glass balls were indeed Japanese glass fishing floats. Cut loose from trawl nets and lines they had been left to float where the tides took them.
A number of years later, we made a another trip north. This time instead of glass balls we found similar sized heavy plastic balls of an orange colour. On our previous trip the balls we found had been either green, gray or clear coloured glass. The gray, green or clear glass of the floats blended well with the tropical northern waters. The colours acted as camouflage and we realised that many of the balls could have remained hidden – ending up buried deep beneath the sands. A fitting end to glass balls that had earlier originated from the stark white silica sands.
A Norwegian Invention
Although most people link the glass fishing float to Japanese fishermen it was a Norwegian merchant from Bergen, Chrystopher Faye, who was credited with the invention of the glass fish float. The glass float was developed through the cooperation of the owners of the Hadeland Glassverk.
The earliest evidence of glass floats being used by fishermen was in 1844. The small egg-sized floats were used by Norwegian fishermen who attached the small glass floats to fishing lines and hooks. It was around the same time that glass was reported to be used to support fishing nets. These early glass balls replaced the wooden or cork floats used to keep European, Russian, and North American long lines afloat. By 1910 Japan had adopted the glass balls.
Glass Balls - A Collectors Item
These days glass balls are bringing good money as a collectors item. The fact that the balls are no longer used by fishermen and therefore declining in number only adds to the price. It is not unusual to see good quality glass balls with nets intact selling from $100 to $250 Australian dollars. It would seem that there are more fish in the sea than just the edible type. Glass balls are fast becoming the catch of the day. Steven Miller tells in his article 'Learn a Bit About Glass Floats' talks about the balls with thick hemp rope still attached as being one type of net considered most special by glass float collectors.
The growth in the outdoor patio market has seen an avalanche of mass produced balls being sold in the marketplace. These glass replicas are easily discernible and true collectors recognise them easily. It may mean that the true glass ball could go on to become an even more collectible object.
Where to find Glass Balls
In Australia:
- The beaches and mangroves of northern Queensland are areas where the majority of balls may be located.
- The isolation of these areas make it difficult to get there, but could prove advantageous to those seeking the balls. The currents also add to this area being a primary source of balls.
- Look in areas above high tide mark, there are many good fossicking opportunities to be had.
There are many countries, particularly in Asia, where glass balls may have drifted. However the convoluted ocean currents have these relics of the past on a continual drift in circles, stuck in a vortex of sea and ocean waters. Many of them may never see landfall. Our 1970's Cape York journey made by my husband and myself has left us a legacy of historical significance. A collection of Japanese glass fishing floats left over from a style of fishing that has faded into the mists of time.
Sources:
Glass Float Junkie A Little History About Glass Fishing Floats
Steven Miller's Learn a Bit About Glass Floats
Traveling Queensland 1974 Diaries (Personal Diaries)
Parania Wilson - Parania attained her degree with a double major in welfare and sociology then spent a number of years in welfare working in Mental Health, ...
