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.
It
is
This,
I believe,
is the trend throughout the Marshalls.
seen in the orientation toward a cash
copra production.
purchase rice,
economy,
If the Bikinians have the money they will
flour and
sugar,
which have become
items on Kili and elsewhere in the Marshalis.
foodstuffs,
based upon
including coffec,
staple food
These and other
tea, 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.
would imagine
that
the abundance of fish and
Bikini would mean a reduction
and even canned meat.
fowl
locally would
I
shellfish on
in the purchase of canned
fish,
The availability of pork and domestic
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
and fish are very expensive in the Marsnalls.
canned meats
These and other
consumer goods must be imported over vast distances.
This
requirement is reflected in the cost to the consumer on the atolls.
The local foods such as arrowroot, pandanus,
squash will
—
CIN
bananas
undoubtedly be used in addition to imported
Arrowroot and pandanus
ated
_—_)
foods.
_)
and
breadfruit,
were especially important and