aimed at protecting swordfish.

Fourteen top scientists will attend the seven-day forum at the Princess Hotel, starting tomorrow.

The conference has been organised by the Swordfish Working Group of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

The delegates, from the US, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Japan and Bermuda, are looking for ways to accurately measure the size of swordfish stocks in the Atlantic Ocean.

They will use the Bermuda meetings to develop a scientific method of categorising the fish by age and sex.

Environment Minister Irving Pearman, who will open the conference, said Government technical officers would attend the meetings.

He added : "The aim is to make projections on the long-term future of the swordfish stock so there is no over-fishing.'' HAYWARD'S TO EXPAND PLN Hayward's to expand Hayward's Grocery has applied to the Development Applications Board to expand the building and reconfigure its parking area.

Owner Paul Hayward expects such changes will force loiterers and drug dealers off the Middle Road, Warwick property and will ease parking during peak times.

Mr. Hayward was not available for comment. But night manager Ronnie Williams said: "It will enhance the property and eliminate that dead area to the south of the building.'' Central to the plans are an expansion on the south-east corner for a deli/sandwich shop and storage area.

Hayward's will enclose the south-facing walkway and add a planter at the junction of the two wings.

The plans are similar to the enclosure of the eastern walkway of its building in 1995.

The facelift to the property includes a four-foot wall replacing the hedge at the roadside, and separate entrance and exit for vehicles.

BA OFFERS 777 FARE FLY BA offers 777 fare British Airways is offering a special fare for the first seven flights of its new Boeing 777 service between Bermuda and London's Gatwick Airport which start next month.

The "two for $777'' promotional fare can be purchased immediately for the first seven flights which begin February 3.

BA manager Philip Troake said: "The two for $777 is our way of saying `thank you, Bermuda' for 60 years of flying our airline, and to encourage travellers to try the new state-of-the-art aircraft.'' Passengers must travel together and all travel must be completed by March 31, 1998. Other restrictions apply.

The first British Airways Gatwick-based Boeing 777 debuts on the Bermuda route with a three-class service featuring the new "flying beds'' in first class.

Switching from the DC-10s, which now operate on the route, to the 777s and adding a fourth flight each week will mean a 60 percent increase in capacity for the route.

The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The fourth flight will be added on Fridays in April.

MEN HELD FOR KNIVES CRM Men held for knives Police Task Force officers swooped over the weekend and arrested two men for carrying knives.

Two 20-year-old Warwick men were charged after being stopped and searched on Ord Road, Paget.

A five-inch knife was found in a compartment of one of the men's bikes and the other was found to be carrying a four-inch blade. The incident happened on Friday night.

And Task Force officers arrested a 20-year-old Devonshire man around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning after he was seen shouting at people on Front Street.

A Police spokesman said the man was warned about his behaviour but continued to shout and swear. He was arrested for offensive behaviour.