Survey In W Samoa

Waters

From Our Own Correspondent T t APIA, Dec. 19 HE South Seas Marine Products tuna canning factory at Pago Pago was to bp opened at the beginning of the T-> e^. r iL nc * preparations were completed.

But the company hit a snag and it ap pears that the most essential thing was lacking—large shoals of tuna could not be found. Up to the present the canning factory has still not started work.

But Mr. Gatty and his friends have not given up hope and are now looking for new waters in which to search for the elusive tuna. According to an official announcement by the Samoan Govern ment, permission has been granted Mr Gatty and his company which is regis tered in Fiji, to conduct an exploratory survey in Samoan waters with a view to ascertaining the seasonal movement of fish, particularly the tuna. The ex pedition will be completely self-contained and two vessels (one carrying a small aircraft) will arrive in Samoan waters on or after December 17 for a stay of about a week. A further short visit will be paid during January, at the conclusion of which it is expected that all necessary data will have been obtained.

It has been made clear to the company that the visit is to be purely exploratory and that the Government of Western Samoa will not necessarily grant fishing rights in Samoan waters. The expedition will keep the Government informed of its day to day movements in Samoan waters, and no personnel will be landed other than at the port of Apia or at the air port at Faleole.