Dutch Treat. The U.S. wartime policy of allocating surplus air transports to foreign airlines paid a fat dividend. The Royal Dutch Airlines (K.L.M.) bought 16 surplus transports and The Netherlands Government granted U.S. airlines cabotage (the right to land and embark cargo and passengers en route to any destination in the world served by American flag lines in Holland). Thus the Dutch subscribed to the "Five Freedoms" drafted (but not adopted by all the countries) last year at the Chicago International Civil Aviation Conference (TIME, Dec. 11). Result: American Airlines Overseas, Inc., formerly American Export Airlines, certified to fly to Amsterdam, may begin a survey flight next week.
How's Fishing? In one night fishermen from Monterey's Cannery Row excitedly seined more sardines (9,000 tons) than ever before. Captain Nick Mezin's stubby Delores M. brought in the largest catch—260 tons. For the night's work the 800-odd fishermen collected close to $200,000.
The Public Be Damned. With a rueful bow to the powerful cotton-bloc lobby, the Department of Agriculture last week lifted the parity price for raw cotton to a new high of 21.58¢ a Ib.—the dizziest peak since 1920. The Department was forced to boost the price under the Bankhead Amendment, which requires adjustment of the parity price. Uultimately (and at pyramided price increases) this sop to cotton growers' inefficiency will be passed on to the consumer.
Growing Pains. Victor Emanuel, shrewd, farsighted chairman of the $36 million Aviation Corp. that owns 29.6% of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp., continued his flight towards diversification. Having purchased Crosley Corp. (TIME, July 2) in June (radios, household appliances), Emanuel last week announced that Aviation Corp. will plunk out over $4,100,000 to buy control of New Idea, Inc., manufacturers of farm machinery and implements.