Vagaries of the Trocas
pp. 33-34 · Read in the full issue
Market
ACCORDING to the “Fiji Times,” of June 6, the price of trocas shell, “on the beach” in the Colony has fallen suddenly to £6O per ton. Previous re corded price was £95 per ton, but for many months past the price had been quoted around £B5 per ton.
Meanwhile, in Sydney f.a.q. trocas has been bringing from £l3O to £l5O per ton, and it was reported in June that many parcels of shell had changed hands within recent weeks.
Pre-war, most Pacific trocas went to Japan and Central European countries where it was converted into buttons, etc.
The price in Australia then averaged about £75 per ton, for first quality shell.
During the war, of course, no trocas fishing was carried on and, at present neither Japan nor the Central European countries appear to be in a position to show much interest in the industry.
However, of recent months there have been indications that America has become interested in the button trade, and that there might be a good market for Pacific trocas in the United States.
Good-class trocas should be available for several years to come as former fish ing areas have had from four to six years’ rest. Resumption of the industry in the south-west Pacific is hampered by lack of suitable boats for fishing operations as well as by the lack of overseas ships which would normally carry the shell to the world’s markets.
Informed circles in Manila understand that Philippine Relief and Rehabilita tion Administration has placed an order for 2,000,000 yards of textiles with the Pacific Islands Trading Co. in San Francisco (Says “Far East Trader” of May 15). A previous order of 5,000,000 yards is now being shipped to the provinces for distribution. The Pacific Islands Trading Co. is the enterprise of Mr. A. G Andrews, formerly a Burns Philp mer chandising manager in Fiji.
Mr. E. R. Bevington, of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Administration, accom panied by Mrs. Bevington and their two children, arrived in Sydney in June, on their way back to Fiji, after long leave, spent mostly in England. Mr. Bevington was the Administrative Officer at Tarawa, in charge of the Southern Gilberts, when the Japanese attacked in December, 1941, and he and his family had a narrow escape from capture.
The Paris Scientific Bureau for Colonial Research has appointed four of its mem bers to survey New Caledonia for the purpose of producing a map on a far larger scale than that made by a previous survey in 1917. They will undertake also a geologic and mineralogic survey which may have an important bearing on the Colony’s future. This is the first time that the French have a scientific research in New Caledonia on such a scale. The party will maintain a laboratory in Noumea. M. Routhier, leader, has already arrived by air, via the USA. He will later be joined by his wife; a scientist. M. Avias, of the Paris Uni versity; and two geological engineers, Messrs. Arnould and Grunevald. They will remain in the island for at least a year.