19

transportation for men,

materials,

and ultimately copra,

is

an absolute necessity.
It is very difficult 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 cash economy,
copra production.

purchase rice,

if the Bikinians have

flour and sugar,

the money they will

which have become staple food

items on Kili and elsewhere in the Marshalls.
foodstuffs,

including coffee,

tea,

of tne

diet and

cannot

be

These and other

canned meats and

will be purchased in large quantities.
part

based upon

canned

fish,

They form an important

considered

to be

luxuries.

I

would imagine that the abundance of fish and shellfish on
Bikini
and

fowl

would mean a

reduction

even canned meat.

in the purchase

The availability of

of canned

pork and

fish,

domestic

locally would probably affect canned meat purchase3.

Tne

use of wildfowl and turtles would also probably mean a decrease
in canned meat

purchases.

It

should

be

noted

and fish are very expensive in the Marsnalls.
consumer goods must
requirement
The
and

is

imported

reflected

over vast

in the cost

undoubtedly be

used

canned meats

These and other

distances.

to the

local foods such as arrowroot, pandanus,

squash will

foods,

be

that

This

|

consumer on the atolls.
breadfruit,

bananas

in addition to imported

Arrowroot and pandanus were especially important and

Select target paragraph3