In years past most trochus harvesters preferred to store their harvested shells in areas near high water marks such as the shorelines of islands or the banks of mangrove estuaries so that they could be cleaned with fresh salt water when they are prepared for sale.
This is a good way for storing harvested trochus shells except for one big problem. People who live near these places or have occasions to visit them have complained loudly that the “ripe smells” from the decaying residue of meats remaining in the hundreds of trochus shells, after the edible parts have been pried out, are too much to bear and the people responsible for these foul odors should pay stiff fines for such atrocities. Most local residents know the “foul odors” these people are talking about. State government officials should issue regulations on where and how “harvested trochus shells” should be stored so that they would not be health hazards to the community.Ideally, harvested trochus shells should be stored in places where they would be safe from theft and at the same time they should be near large supplies of water, preferably salt water, for easy cleaning when they are readied for sale. There have been incidents in the past where unscrupulous people actually raided trochus storage sites. We don’t want that to happen to people who dove and worked so hard on the reefs collecting trochus shells to make some money. There should be state laws levying stiff monetary fines and other appropriate punishments on people who steal trochus shells from other people’s storage sites. People who do such things should also be made to wear signs hanging from their necks proclaiming them as “Milengubs a Semum”.Go on to higher education young peopleThis year’s school period has ended and we take this opportunity to urge and encourage our high school graduates to set their sights on higher things. If you are ready and have the necessary grades, you should go on to a colleges or universities that accept you. If you wish to go into a profession at this time, you should enroll in technical schools or work programs that can give you the necessary tools and skills to work in the field of your choice. Don’t be satisfied with only a high school diploma. Go for something higher, which would be profitable to you in life.Many of our medical people—doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and others in our hospital—have been working very hard for many years for all of us and they deserve rests. Some of you young people should prepare yourselves to replace them when their retirements come around. Our country also needs new lawyers and new judges, so we urge those of you who want and could be in these professions to start preparing yourselves for these very important roles. Other public offices, both in the National and States governments, and our business establishments also need men and women to replace those who would soon reach retirement ages. The Republic needs you!
