BSIP Crocodile

There's Money In BSIP Crocodile Skins Right Now

From Gabrielle Lawson in Honiara A world-wide shortage of the skins of the salt water type of crocodile, which is found in the

Solomons, has resulted recently

in a 40 per cent, increase in prices paid to local hunters.

THIS may have been the reason for the arrival in Honiara on October 8 of Mr. and Mrs. G. W.

Mathews, who have recently been crocodile shooting in Northern Aus tralia.

Mr. and Mrs. Mathews arrived in the AV Torenia, a ketch of the type known as a Thursday Island pearl ing lugger, and which Mr. Mathews bought at Thursday Island for croco dile shooting.

If the Mathews do go in for crocodile hunting in the Solomons, they will find that things are not quite the same as what they have been used to.

In Australia and New Guinea, crocodiles are found mainly in the rivers; but in the Solomons most of them are found along the foreshores and coral reefs because the rivers are generally too small to supply them with food. However, some do get up the rivers, especially on Guadalcanal.

Well-known Solomon Islands identity Mr. R. Dethridge is the most experienced crocodile hunter in these waters. But it is only a sideline for him these days, not a full-time job as it was some years ago.

His method is to use a small launch built to cruise in very shallow water, towing a dinghy.

Mr. Dethridge takes three Solomon Islanders with him in the launch, and two in the dinghy with a most important piece of equipment—an axe.

Red Glow A powerful spotlight is used to locate the crocodile whose eyes re flect a brilliant red glow at night.

About 30 yards from the croco dile, the dinghy is cast off, and when the launch gets closer the engine is shut off. As the launch glides to wards the crocodile, a bullet is fired between the creature’s eyes.

The dinghy crew then go ashore, and split the crocodile s skull with the axe i ust t 0 be sure!

The procedure is quite simple to one with Mr. Dethridge’s experience, but no “kettle of fish” to the novice.

Think of all the things that could happen! The bullet could miss; the firing d 'and C with fill the launch with water; or it could even make a jump towards the shooter and land in the boat Crocodiles have certainly taken the lives of a number of people in the Solomons, particularly native children.

Among Englishmen who are be-

lieved to have been taken by croco dile is young Lord Michael Fitzroy who came out here some years ago looking for adventure and decided to take a swim while a small ship he was travelling in was anchored at West Bay in the Russell Islands, He was not seen again. jn ” n oniar R a people f° sw ™ min 8 " the B °" egl R ‘Y er >, a few ™ les up 'I 16 c ? ast from the town > without a thought of crocodiles—even though a few “ Beware of Crocs” notices have been P ut U P on the roadside.

The general feeling is that the notices are there to make the place look attractive to tourists!