POACHING VESSEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20965, 31 August 1931, Page 12

POACHING VESSEL.

JAPANESE BOAT CAPTURED. SHELL IN HATCHES. .An interesting story of the capture of a Japanese shell poacher by the master of the W. R. Carpenter island steamer Durour, commanded by Captain Irvine, is told by the Aitapo correspondent of the Rabaul Times. Tho poaching vessel was found operating on the reef of Carpenter's Maty Plantation and was taken after a long chase. t Captain Irvine said that the overseer of tho plantation had informed him that', a vessel, probably identical with that working some six months before aroilhd Awinn and Allison Islands, had been shellfishing in tho vicinity. Keeping a sharp look-out, lie found four ship's boats working the reef. Ho picked thorn up and made the crews prisoners. Shortly afterwards ho sighted a vessel named tho Turihimia Maru and set out in pursuit. The Japanese steamer, a rakishly-built vessel of sampan design and about 100 tons burden, was keeping ahead of her pursuer when engino trouble developed and she was overhauled. Hor skipper surrendered without a show of resistance and, in broken English, offered Captain Irvine a large bribo to allow him to depart. Captain Irvine refusod to consider the offer and towed his prize into Aitape. There it was found that tho Turihimia MafU was fitted with a 150 h.p. semiDiesel engine, collapsible masts and seven boats. Her Japanese crew comprised 29 persons. Of her four hatches, one was found to bo filled with fuel and another contained a quantity of shell. The vessel was 100 ft. long, with a large forecastle and a big after-cabin. Local opinion wa#» that she wan operating from a secret base.