Trochus Beds Get Benefit

From War

ALL the information which has come to hand lately from various parts of the Western Pacific indicates that the trochus shell beds have made re markable growth and development, as the result of the spell they have enjoyed since the Japanese invasion of the Pacific.

Until the end trochus shell had been gathered regularly wherever it could be found for at least 50 or 60 years.

There was a kind of unwritten law among trochus fishermen that baby shell —that is, all shell under a certain measurement—should not be touched, so that the beds might continue with nor mal growth. But when the Japanese shelling boats came swarming all over the South-western Pacific in the ’twen ties, they not only stole shell off pri vately-owned reefs, and from reefs within territorial waters—they literally scraped the baby shell from most of the reefs and destroyed many excellent shell beds.

It will be remembered that in the later 'thirties several “incidents” occurred when European owners caught the Jap anese robbing their shell-beds and fired at them.

However, all these shell-beds have now had 3-2 years of complete rest, and they have for the most part made astonish ing growth. Experienced shellers are watching the situation with considerable

interest and literally counting the days to the time when the seas will be free again.

It is expected that there will be, after the war, a good market for trochus shell which should continue for some years.

Dr. J. C. R. Buchanan, who has been appointed Inspector-General of the South Pacific Medical Service, assumed duty in Suva in April last.