Thursday Is. Notes.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., April 10.

A FIRST consignment of Murray Island sardines, specially prepared for the Eastern market, left here during the month by the “Marella” for Java. The quantity was small, but quality from all accounts excellent, the fish being well dried, clean and soft, and free from any odour.

Synthetic Rubber.

Will there ever be an end to the dis covery of new synthetic products which threaten the great natural in dustries of the tropics? We fear this is too much to expect from the scien tists who thereby justify their exist ence. Natural rubber, at present being sold at a cost far below that of pro duction, can now be undersold by a new synthetic article manufactured by the du Pont company out of limestone, coal, salt and water. During the pro cess, acetylene is formed from the first two ingredients, and. after chemical treatment and the addition of hydrogen chloride, the new material “Duprene” is produced. The discovery is regarded as of great importance in its land of origin, the U.S.A., where there is al ways a fear that in case of war, sup plies of natural rubber might be blocked.

The manufacturers of Duprene are only making modest claims for the use fulness of the product, and at its pre sent stage it will be chiefly employed as an adjuvant to the natural article, leplacing it perhaps where a cheaper and inferior material will suffice.

Produce Markets.

The amount of pearl shell required from Thursday Island for the year is 460 tons, which is an increase of 110 tons on 1931. This encouraging expan

sion is no doubt due to the efforts of the Gerdau Company of New York to popularise the use of M.O.P. in new directions. A contract for this amount has been signed by the combined pearlers.

Beche-de-mer prices remain at a very low and uncertain figure, owing to

the disturbed state of the Chinese mar kets. Just at present, beche-de-mer fishing must be a precarious game, but prices may improve at any moment.

Trochus stocks are depleted, none of the new season’s shell having come in yet. Good prices, £55 to £60, are being offered.