Possible New Industry for
pp. 68-69 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Watches For Whales
Possible New Industry for Old Levuka
FJI may have a whaling station, if investigations now being carried out by W. R. Carpenter and Co. (Fiji) Ltd. justify such an enterprise.
The firm’s managing director, Mr. W. G. Johnson, stated in May that the establishment of the in dustry depends mostly on counts of whales, now being carried out. The present investigations were intended as a check on data gathered in 1949 by Mr. Harold Gatty, who had supplied details to Carpenters.
Mr. Johnson said that little could be expected, in data, from the present watch, during May and June; but he thought the count might be higher in July and August. Observers generally agree that there are more whales in these waters in those months.
Mr. Johnson said that if a suf ficient number of whales could be taken seasonally in the waters now being watched, Ovalau seemed to be the logical place for the estab lishment of a coastal station. This would create an influx of capital
and employment, which would benefit Levuka and Ovalau island.
Levuka, once the capital of Fiji, and now a decayed tropical port, could do with an industrial shot-in the-arm.
Whales had been seen recently on
the south coast of Viti Levu, j the Makogai Channel, near Ko] Island and in the Lau Group. Bi those sightings were isolated.
“We are trying to find 01 whether there is a reasonably n liable stream of whales passir
e to the shore within an estab ed season,” Mr. Johnson said, i area being watched is between Jau, Wakaya and Batiki. There watchmen on the unattended thouse at Wakaya, and a watch point has been established at elevation of about 200 feet, in uka. From there, with the aid exceedingly powerful binoculars panese wartime relics, the pro y of Ratu G. K. Cakobau) the between Ovalau and Wakaya ithouse is watched, except in ivourable weather, iptain W. Sinclair is in charge he men employed on the various ehing duties, and uses the liary vessel, Sigawale, for odic trips to Wakaya Light se, with relief men and stores. > ship also patrols the waters /een Ovalau and Wakaya.