Fiji

Big Game Fish in Western Fiji

LAUTOKA, April 20.

TWO experienced American big game fishermen, Mr. A. Schwa bacher and Dr. Robert Dunn, came to Fiji to investigate reports of large marlin swordfish in the Yasawas, and they chartered the MV Turanga Levu (Captain Trev.

Withers) for this purpose.

Captain Withers, himself an ex perienced big-game fisherman, said that while the Americans’ gear was the finest he had seen, unfortunately their heaviest line was only 24thread, and he doubted whether this would hold the fish which he knew were in the Yasawa grounds.

His predictions were correct. On the first day three heavy fish were hooked, but simply smashed the tackle. On the third day a fish estimated at between 500 and 600 pounds, after being played by Dr.

Dunn for over an hour, shook the hook loose when the boatman was getting ready to gaff him.

Captain Withers declares “there are far bigger fish in these waters than those found around New Zea land.” He should know!

H Mr. Howard Hayden, who has been Director of Education in Fiji since 1946, and who since has been prominent in educational research in the Pacific, has been appointed Director of Education in Trinidad, and will leave Fiji at the end of June. He formerly was stationed in Barbados. fl Mr. D. M. Kamerling, manager of the Islands department of Bunge (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., returned to Syd ney early last month after a busi ness visit to Papua and New Guinea.

He leaves for New Caledonia and New Hebrides early in June.

Owing to crop failures in NZ and Australia, Fiji expects to suffer a severe shortage of potatoes—of which the Colony normally imports 2,000 tons per annum. Officials are urging widespread planting of kumalas (sweet potatoes) as a sub stitute.