transportation for men,
materials, and ultimately copra,
is
an absolute necessity.
It is very difficuit to estimate the degree of
utilization of local vs.
imported foods.
One can say, however,
that the Bikini people will use imported foods to a much
greater degree than they did before they were moved from the
atoll.
This,
I believe,
is the trend throughout the Marshalls.
It is seen in the orientation toward a casn economy, based upon
copra production.
purchase rice,
If the Bikinlans have the money they will
flour and sugar,
which have become staple food
items on Kili and elsewhere in the Marshalls.
foodstuffs,
including coffec,
tea,
These and other
canned meats and canned fish,
will be purchased in large quantities.
They form an important
part of the diet and cannot be considered to be luxuries.
I
would imagine that the abundance of fish and shellfish on
Bikini would mean a reduction in tne purchase of canned fish,
and even canned meat.
The availability of pork and domestic
fowl locally would probably affect canned meat purchases.
The
use Of wildfowl and turtles would also probably mean a decrease
in canned meat purchases.
It should be noted that canned meats
and fish are very expensive in the Marshalls.
These and other
consumer goods must be imported over vast distances.
This
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requirement is reflected in the cost to the consumer on the atolls.
The local foods such as arrowroot, pandanus,
breadfruit, bananas
and squash will undoubtedly be used in addition to imported
foods.
Arrowroot and pandanus were especially important and