Trocas Poachers

Japanese Continue Very Active

THE activities of Japanese trocas poachers in the waters northward and north-eastward of Australia have had a lot of attention in Australia during the month.

It is understood that the Commonwealth Government, through London, has made strong representations to Japan concern ing this matter, and that the Federal Attorney-General (Mr. Latham) who is

now en route to Japan, will deal also with the matter.

The Commonwealth Government, how ever, while arguing that the cost of meas ures against poaching should be borne by Japan rather than by Australia, does not propose to wait indefinitely. Already plans are afoot for the establishment of patrols in the form of fast motor launches which will be capable of pur suing the specially-engined sampans em ployed by the Japanese. The use of aero planes has been urged. Aeroplanes cer tainly would give the patrol a wider view, and could cover an immensely greater area of ocean, but otherwise the aero plane is practically helpless—unless it Could drop bombs on the poachers.

One serious difficulty before the Aus tralian authorities concerns their rights t© beds of pearlshell and trocas outside the three-miles territorial limit. It may be argued that, outside those limits, the Japanese have as much right to operate as have the British. It is disclosed, for instance, that Australia probably has no legal authority over the Great Barrier Reef.

The British Parliament has given the Australian Government a general power to control fisheries in “Australian waters.”

This power is understood to apply to waters outside the territorial limit, but the area to which it applies is not defined, and it is thought that in certain circum stances efforts to regulate the operations of vessels regarded as poachers might provoke a protest from the nation to which they belong. It is believed that the uncertainty can only be resolved by legis lation by the Federal Parliament.

The following appeared in Australian newspapers on April 13: — Mr. A. T. Sullivan, of Thursday Island, a partner in the pearl-fishing company of Morey and Co., said that there were two Japanese mother ships operating with their sampans in and close to Aus tralian waters. He is at present visiting Innisfail, inquiring into the Japanese vessel which was reported this week to be fishing for trocas shell.

Mr. Sullivan said he understood that there were 18 vessels in a Japanese fleet which had its headquarters in the Malay States. Some of them worked pearl shell, and the two which penetrated to Austra lian waters would probably remain for two or three months before returning to their bases.. The operations of the Japan ese had occupied the attention of the owners of the pearling fleet at Thursday Island, who had to pay Australian license fees, while the captains of the boats also had to be licensed.