New Caledonia Trochus
p. 80 · Read in the full issue
Beds In Danger
PERTURBED over a possible dis astrous depletion of New Caledonia’s trochus beds, mem bers of the Conseil-General at Noumea want a law forbidding the use of any kind of diving apparatus.
Other French Pacific territories already have such a law.
An important aspect of the ques tion is that many natives are de pendent on trochus fishing for a livelihood. Even if the danger of depleting the beds did not exist, these fishermen could not afford to buy apparatus.
Others who are now using breath ing apparatus have been lured by the current high price of trochus— -52,000 francs a ton. (Noumea Corre spondent.)