No Fishermen In

Fiji

—And No Fish

IT might be expected that the fishing ' industry in Fiji would be largely in the hands of the Fijians themselves, who before the advent of the white man with his convenient can, were partly de pendent on fish for daily existence. They still have the aptitude and the knowledge of fishing-grounds, but they apparently have no incentive to go in for fishing commercially.

Since the few Japanese who supplied the bulk of the fish to Vitu Levu were interned at the beginning of the Pacific war, this island, and particularly Suva, has been short of fish and presumably this state of affairs will continue until someone with a degree of enterprise sees the possibilities of the industry.

Fish is plentiful, of good eating quality, and easily caught. At present, what little native fishing there is, is done in the broad coastal lagoons formed by the fringing reeT But these days the Fijian, by and large, prefers to take his fish from a can, and certainly he has no in clination to fish for monetary gain—not, at least, while he is still floating merrily along on the backwash of the dollar prosperity period.

WELL-WISHERS of the Fijian people have agitated themselves consider ably of late over the question of their post-war rehabilitation, knowing that their communal village life has suf fered considerably during the war years.

It is felt that it would be desirable to establish Fijians in industries naturally suited to them.

Scientifically, the Fijian is classed as a Melanesian; but in comparison with the Melanesian of the South-West Pacific he is an emancipated creature indeed. In Fiji he is not treated like an irresponsible child, as are the natives of New Guinea and the Solomons, but as a free British citizen; education is available to him and, theoretically, is compulsory; he may be granted a licence to drink liquor (and judging by the crowds around Suva’s hotels, he often is so blessed); and he may choose his own way of life to an extent unknown to the Islanders of Melanesia proper.

All this being so, the Fijian should also be advanced sufficiently to see the writ ing on the wall with regard to his own country, and realise that the time has come for him to do something to retain it as his own. At the moment the Fijian seems more than willing to rest on his war-won laurels and take an interest in little besides Rugby football.

If the Fijian can be urged to take up an industry, then it seems logical that fishing would have a high priority. A local demand is already there and, with the right backing and organisation, there might be scope for a cannery or a factory for smoking fish.

The position at present is that much of the “Islands fish” enthusiastically con sumed in Suva’s hotels is imported from New Zealand, while fish swarm in thou sands inside the reefs of Viti Levu and the sea outside remains totally unex ploited.