Jap. Poachers

New Hebrides Takes Action at Last

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Vila, Nov. 1.

DEFINITE steps have now been taken by the Administration of the New Hebrides Condominium to bring under proper control the fishing of the trochus reefs by Japanese sampans.

Apparently these Japanese— continu ing a practice which has been going on for over five years—come from the Caro line and Marshall Islands, enter British and French territorial waters without permission, and—what is worse—remove every vestige of young shell from the reefs and shell beds. A great deal of per manent harm has thus been done by these Japanese, and the authorities are deter mined that at least the shell-beds shall be protected.

The sampans which are the greatest nuisance are those usually seen around the Banks Group, in the northern part of the New Hebrides, at some distance from the regular steamship routes. Oper ating out in these waters,* they have for years escaped the control of the New Hebrides Administration.