Investigations Into Palolo

Risings

Suva, October 8. milE rising of the sea worm commonly 1 called “palolo” (and technically known as the annelid worm, Eunice Viridis ) in certain parts of the South Pacific, has given rise to much contro versy.

The worm rises twice each year with about four weeks between each rising.

The first rising is a comparatively small one, but in the second great quantities of the worm (which is known as “Balolo” in Fiji, “Palolo” in Samoa and Tonga, “Orku” in parts of the Solomons and “Un” in Banks Island) come to the sur face and are gathered by the natives as food.

The risings of the palolo are, now, however, to be investigated in an organ ised manner. A retired naval officer, Commander W. Burrows, of Suva, who was for many years a District Commis sioner in Fiji, is devoting much of his time in retirement to the study of the palolo. In an effort to obtain accurate records of this year’s risings, he has sent special report forms to ’people living at places in Fiji and elsewhere in the South Pacific where risings have been known to occur in previous years.

He expects that in Fiji this year the first rising will occur about October 20 and the main rising on Novemebr 17, and he would appreciate reports from observers, whether or not he has sent them copies of his form. He wishes to know the date and place of the rising, the quantity of palolo, the state of the tide and whether the weather was wet or fine.