“ ISLES OF DEATH.”

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1930, Page 2

“ ISLES OF DEATH.”

ROMANCE AND TRADE

INDIAN OCEAN GROUP

Ambitious schemes to develop the resources of the romantic and historic group of island 300 miles from Mauritius, known as the Cargadoes Cara] os Islands, formerly the “lies of Death.” are under way by Commander J. E. Cnpstickdale, who, during the last two years has been acting as general manager and administrator for the islands 'Commander Cnpstickdale has If ft for England, where he is to buy a trawler to help him in his plans. Car- ! "ados' Carajris Islands are a coral group, a dependency of Mauritius.

PIRATE ACTIVITY

“The group lies on the old southeast trade winds trade from an ancient lands of fOphir and Cntbnv.” explains Captain Cnpstickdale. “This route was traversed by the early treasure fleets of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British navigators, and so the islands acquired a sinister reputation. Pirates of every nationality made them a base Hf operations from which they preyed upon tile treasure fleets ill what was the Ethhiopie sea of those days.

“The islands thus became known as the Isles of Death. Many a scene of •carnage was enacted on their benches and fortunes in looted treasury were cached between the coral pinnacles. “Afore than 100 argosies of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries came to grief on the coral flanges of this 'thirty-five-mile reef, which remained uncharted for over three centuries and Hading shins to almost the same number have since left their bleached wreckage to the mercy of the pounding trade rollers, 'which break on the weather edge alter their drive of 3000 miles.'

“For more than a century these isles have been the' scene of a spasmodic turtling and fishing industry, but it is only within the last two years that the industry has been systematised. The leasehold of the islands 'fell into the hands of the Raphael Fishing Com pany. of Port Louis, of which I am fislh manager and partner and since ‘hen the property has proved a valuable asset to Mauritius.

-'.TEAM TRAWLER TO BE USED. “The trade has developed beyond the capacity ,of the old ‘white swan’ ships to deal with, and a steam trawler is now being bought for its more expeditious exploitation. The Government of Mauritius has realised the possibilities of its dependency and is supporting the proposed scheme by a lonii;“

Corilniaiutef Ciipstickdale hold out the hope of ail abundant' silpplv of turtle for the cape. The St. Brafidos Islands, to give them their local name are the haunt of large numbers of turtles, both of edible and the tortoiseshell vorietv. The isles are the only outcrops of land i nan area of over 250,000 square miles, and are, therefore, the only places where the turtles can lay eggs for the sun to hatch. The commander added that there has been a dearth of turtles during the last two years, but, he said, they have now returned in greater numbers than before. There will he a large supply available for the next seven years, he declared. The islands are- the home of great game fish. Dolphins, swordfish, tuna ■l4«n"fish .and snilftish. with dorsal fin sixteen feet in length have been seen in the waters surrounding the group. “St Brandos,” concluded the commander, .“is now assured, after all these years, of a place on the map.”