PEARL SHELL POACHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 9

PEARL SHELL POACHING

BY JAPANESE SAMPAN IN BANKS GROUP OF ISLANDS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 3. An account of the operations of a pearl shell poaching Japanese sampan in the Banks Group of the islands in tlie northern and western sections of the New Hebrides in May is given by Mr D. Askew, a sulphur miner, who has arrived at Sydney. He says that the natives on the island of Uraparraparra complained that the crew of a Japanese vessel, numbering 45, raided their village and cleared all the gardens of vegetables. They then left, taking with them not only all the shell collected on the beach, but also native boats. A few days later the sampan appeared off Vanua Lava, and five canvas collapsible boats made for the shore. Mr Askew and another white resident set off in a launch to intercept the boats, which made off at a great speed. The sampan put to sea at the rate of about 22 knots. It was apparently fitted with a powerful Diesel engine. A Suva message on July 29 read; A mysterious vessel—about 80 feet long —believed to be a Japanese craft, was observed off Funafuti. It departed at high speed when the. district officer attempted to board it. Fijians on Kia Island, 15 miles north of Vanua Levu, report that a Japanese vessel appeared outside the reef on July 16. She landed 40 men, obtained water, and then departed.