Ripples Through Time - 050

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #116 (May 1947) - Peril of Pearl Valley!

Menckin is the only person who is able to dive in Pearl Valley because of the monster that inhabits the waters, but Aquaman is a bit suspicious.

A lovely little tale of pearl divers and a greedy man trying to make a buck through illegal and immoral means. Menckin uses his "monster", a fake giant octopus, to kill a diver who is a native of the local island when he tries to get to the pearls after learning how much they are worth. Menckin is also altering the pearls, creating cultured pearls with a "special fluid". He very kindly talks to himself about his misdeeds while altering the oysters. Aquaman comes to investigate the monster, and runs into Menckin and ends his reign as the only diver who can risk Pearl Valley.

Finny Friends Report: Menckin is killed by a real giant octopus while Aquaman battles the fake monster. Aquaman apparently kills the octopus trying to save Menckin.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is pushed into the arms of the fake monster by Menckin, but isn't knocked out and isn't really captured.

Quotefile: Aquaman, musing about the story of Luna Vaya's Pearl Valley, "It's rather odd - a monster guarding the spot where precious pearls are found!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?