Jap Fishers

Attractive New Ship Meets Jap Fishers

The new, white-painted Auxiliary ketch “Te Matapula” makes an attractive picture as she sails out of Funafuti Lagoon, Ellice Islands, last September, bound for the Gilberts. (Photograph by Mr. R. G. Roberts, Funafuti.) In Southern Gilberts waters, “Te Matapula” nearly ran into a circle of Japanese fishing lines that could have fouled her propeller. When the Japanese

ship sighted (he approaching “Te Matapula” she steamed to the horizon, where she hove-to. “Te Matapula” slowly circled the Japanese floats. Made of plastic, with Japanese markings, each float was about the size of a soccer baft.

Captain Peckham took one to Tarawa for identification. The photo shows First Mate Malcolm Sword, of Levuka, and an Ellice member of the crew, holding a float and its flag-rod. (Photo by Jack Thorn ton.) “Te Matapula” has rendered good service since her maiden voyage, and is regarded as an excellent advertisement for Suva boatbuilders. When she under went her first engine overhaul in Suva last month she had, in six months’ service in G&EIC waters, already voyaged much more than half the average distance steamed annually by the other Colony Wholesale vessels, “Tovalu” and “Tongaru”.