Senibua Finds Tuna
p. 105 · Read in the full issue
off Southern NSW
i LTHOUGH this season, in comparison L with last when NSW fishermen caught about 1,000 tons by old Lshioned trolling methods, has been a an one for tuna, the Fiji clipper Senibua as proved that they can be caught in astern Australian waters in payable lantities —if they can be found.
There is a lot of ocean off the south ist corner of Australia, however, and to ■uise about there just looking is too ex msive. Senibua men say that there will ave to be an effective system of spotting le schools before it is an economical reposition. When the Senibua arrived i Australia from Fiji some months ago, le brought with her a Piper Cub spotting ane, but, tuna do not always stay close lough to the surface to be spotted in lis way and this method has been aban med and the plane sold. What seems i be needed is a fleet of clippers, linked j radio. When a school is found, there enough fish for all —competition in tiding a school does not enter into the icture.
After last year’s bumper crop, results lis year have been disappointing—appar itly tuna are temperamental creatures— id it is reported that the Fiji company as “ready to give the game away.” How /er, about January 2, a small fishing ;ssel off Eden put Senibua on to a school f tuna and in about five hours they had mght 30 tons, using their live bait pole
shing method.
Then the bait ran out.
Senibua returned to base for more bait ad after much searching relocated the ;hool and caught another 15 tons. Ex mination showed that the fish were impletely empty and very hungry. They ished the live bait.
As a result of this quick haul, Senibua rew have changed their minds somewhat bout the formerly recalcitrant Aussi ma—they say it is there in worthwhile aantities, if you can find it.
Mr. Evatt, NSW Chief Secretary, who at rst refused the Fiji boat permission to sh in NSW, has not* made any pro ouncement, but the Commonwealth Dir ;tor of Fisheries is pleased with Senibua’s jsults. He thinks that the clipper has roved that a worthwhile tuna fishing in astry can be built up on the Australian ist coast using the American pole fishing lethod.