SARDINE FISHING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 3

SARDINE FISHING.

NEW INDUSTRY AT AUCKLAND.

POSSIBILITY INVESTIGATED

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, July 4

In view of tho prohibition of sardine supplies under the import restrictions, a local fishing company is proceeding with iilans for investigating the establishment of a sardine industry at Auckland. As this is a matter involving considerable detailed tests will first be made.

Soyic years ago' regular catches were made in the Hauraki Gulf of fish which were classed by scientists as Sardinia nco pilchardus, a near relative of the European Sardinia pilchardus, the fish canned in huge quantities in the Mediterranean and exported all over the world as sardines. Catches of these fish, running into tons, were secured in the gulf and salted down in barrels. They wore obtainable at several city fish shops, although not in tins.. It was stated at that time by men who had experience of the. Mediterranean sardine fishing, that the gulf would be regarded as a veritable goldmine by European fishers. After some difficulty the" Auckland company has secured small nets of the right type for sardine fishing. It lias in its employ l two export sardine fishermen with European experience, and it is proposed shortly to make sample catches of the fish to he found in the gulf. Arrangements have'been made with a local company engaged in other types of canning to put up tins of the fish after the requisite processing in order to test their suitability for canning. If the results are satisfactory consideration will ho given to the possibilities of establishing the industry on a commercial scale.