Fiji Whales For 1957 Recount

1957 Recount

THE proposal of W. R. Carpenter and Co. (Fiji) Ltd., to set up a whaling station at Levuka de pends on whether it can be operated on a sound commercial basis, and thus a reliable count of whales is necessary. This cannot be done in one or two years with any certainty.

Counts were taken in the May- August period last year; another will be taken this year and a third, if necessary, next year.

Markers were fired into whales sighted last year, and Carpenters are now waiting to see where these whales are picked up.

If they come back to Fiji waters that could be regarded as a pretty sure sign that there is an annual migration. But if they are found, say, round New Zealand, the infer ence could well be that Fiji does not have an annual migration in great numbers.

Before the count was started last year there were isolated sightings along the south coast of Viti Levu, in the Makogai Channel, near Koro Island and in the Lau Group.

Carpenters want to know if there is a reasonably reliable stream close to the shore in an established season. Last year the area watched was between Ovalau, Wakaya and Batika.

Should it become possible to set

up a whaling station, then it appears that Levuka would be the logical site. Levuka, once the capital of Fiji, is now a decayed tropical port.

A whaling station would give it an industrial shot-in-the-arm and create an influx of capital and em ployment.

About all Ovalau has just now is a little copra and Mr. A. G.

McCown’s button factory.

t Mr. W. H. Percival, who became editor of the Cook Islands Review last October, retired in December due to health reasons. Mr. L. Noakes, Director of Social Development, will now be assisted in the produc tion of the Review, by Mrs. S.

McKenzie.