Fiji Tuna Fishers

Looking Towards Australia

THERE have been changes in the plans of South Sea Marine Products, Ltd organised by Mi’. Harold Gatty, and registered in Suva, to exploit tuna fisheries in Fiji.

After the necessary equipment had been installed in Fiji, the Co. experienced dif ficulties because —for some reason never explained—the feeding habits of tuna in Fiji waters were found to be different from those of tuna elsewhere, and they would not take the baits offered by the Fijian fishing-boats.

A great deal of additional research took place, but the position in May last was reported by Mr. Gatty to be pre carious.

The following appeared in Sydney Sun on June 26; A tuna-fishing project with experienced overseas crews operating modern Ameri can craft is being considered by Aus tralian authorities. The proposal is be ing sponsored by a joint British-American group whose representative is now in ydney.

The British unit is South Sea Marine Products, based at Suva. The American company is Island Packers Inc., regi stered in American Samoa. Pounder of the two companies was Mr. Harold Gatty, best known as an airman, who made a long investigation into commer cial fishing in the South-West Pacific.

The two companies were established two years ago, a modern cannery being set up at Tutuila, in American Samoa, and the fishing fleet being based, on Suva. Special equipment included a Grumman Goose amphibian and a Piper Cub seaplane for spotting. Joint objec tive was to catch the tuna in Fijian

waters and, after freezing it, to ship it to Samoa for canning.

Recently Mr. Gatty resigned from the operational control of the joint companies and Mr. Don M. Haywood the new general manager, came to Australia from Fiji to investigate reports of tuna in NSW and southern waters.

After a brief survey Mr. Haywood put his project to Mr. F. F. Anderson, Com monwealth Director of Fisheries.

It is believed Mr. IHaywood wants to bring to Australia a clipper, a refrigerated cargo vessel and a live-bait fishing boat at present stationed in Fiji for tuna fishing tests here.

In the US the annual tuna catch totals £5O million. If Mr. Haywood’s fishing flotilla operates successfully here an Aus tralian company may be formed.

Large schools of tuna occur off the south-east and east coast of Australia, and already a considerable canning in dustry has been based on tuna-fishing there.