More Tuna Fisheries?

There are reports that Japanese in terests are looking at both the Mar quesas and New Caledonia with a view to developing new tuna Ashing estab lishments. (An establishment tha employs a Japanese fishing fleet is ai ready established in the New Hebrides —PIM July, p. 69). There appears t* be some opposition to the move front France, so far as the New Caledonis project is concerned, but the report: are that yellow-fin and big-eye tuns have been promising around the Mar quesas.

These two varieties are already an embarrassment to the Santo, NH, fisll freezer as they are unwanted for the US market—which is the lucrative enc of the enterprise, and for which onl; Albacore variety of tuna are accepts able. The less desirable kinds an frozen and sent to Japan, where the* naturally do not bring a high prices The problem is, of course, to get the necessary transport from the NH t*J Japan—and the problem would be mi less from New Caledonia or the Man quesas. A fish cannery at any of thesif points would be a different proposition —and plans have already been madd for this at Santo.