French Marine Scientist
p. 45 · Read in the full issue
Accidental Death of French Marine Scientist
FRENCH marine scientist, Rene Gail, of the Institut Francais de I’Oceanie, at Noumea, became missing, presumed dead, on Jan uary 11, when he failed to surface from a 260-ft dive at the mouth of the Dunbea River, 12 miles from Noumea.
Gail, with another diving en thusiast, was attempting to break his deep diving record.
The two men were equipped with Costau breathing apparatus. Gail's companion said that when he found that Gail did not appear on the surface he made several deep dives
but finally had to abandon his efforts bleeding from the nose and ears.
The general opinion is that Gail was taken by a shark. Following recent heavy rains the water was cloudy and discoloured—ideal con ditions for a shark attack.
Gail had a wife and two children, and had just finished a brilliant study of the trochus fishing industry and had made certain recommenda tions for the control of this in dustry. if Dr, James R. McPherson arrived in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, in mid- January and will replace Dr. T. T.
Romans as Chief Medical Officer when he goes to the UK for a special medical course in May.