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"Notwithstanding the deaths," says Fisher philosophically, "it was worth it." Notwithstanding, in addition, a decade-long legal tug-of-war with the state of Florida and the Federal Government over the ownership of the Atocha 's treasure. In 1982 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Fisher's claim to the Atocha's riches. The high court's decision means that the more than 80 backers of Treasure Salvors Inc. (among them Chicken King Frank Perdue), who have invested millions in the search over the years, will split the value of the find with the Fishers and the crew. The crew members will come away with an average of a tenth of 1%, anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the final take. To make sure that only his people are fishing up the Atochacargo from the open sea, Fisher has hired armed diver-guards and installed underwater video surveillance. A ring of seven salvage ships stands watch over the site.
One of Fisher's archaeologists argues that the well-preserved pieces of the hull and the cargo of the Atocha may be "as important as Pompeii or even King Tut's tomb." Some scientists aboard the salvage ships concur. Says Staff Archaeologist Jim Sinclair: "We're coming upon stuff that we've always dreamed of seeing on this site. I can just imagine how Howard Carter felt when he peeked through the door at King Tut's tomb and said, 'Gold, gold, nothing but gold. That's all I see.' " All those riches will soon transform a company that has known many lean years. Exults McHaley: "This means I'll get my pay check next week." Already divers are being fed sirloin steak. And Fisher is drinking champagne. --By Amy Wilentz. Reported by Martin Casey/Key West