PILCHARD, OR SARDINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 212, 6 September 1892, Page 2

PILCHARD, OR SARDINE.

A. NEW INDUSTRY

" CutrA" writes: Sir, looking into tho "Encyclopedia Britannica" recontly for purposes of referonco I find under the word " Pilchard " tho following paragraph :—' "•On the Pacific coast of America, in New i Zealand and in Japan a pilchurd occurs, which In its character and habits is so similar to the European pilchard that its general utilisation is deserving of attention, and thore is every reason to boliove that New Zealand could produce itsown sardines and fumados. Immense shoals are reported to visit tho Ease Coast of Otago every year in February and March." Whether the si/o of the pilchard of Now Zealand would justify the adoption of the ruode of curing into fumados or fermade adopted in Cornwall, or whethor, if smaller, they could be treated profitably by preserving in oil like sardines (the same lish under a different namo ( nob only of tho same genus, as some suppose, but the fame identical iish), is a question for the experimentalist to determine. My object is simply to draw attention to the opinion of the writer of tho paragraph I have quoted, and to ask you to be good enough to let mo know whether any attempt has been made to develop this industry. " '"" ' ' The " Handbook of New Zealand Fishes, prepared undor the instructions of the Commissioner of Trade and Customs by K. H. H. Sherwin, cays of the New Zealand pilchard :— "This is a true representative of the herring kind in these seas, and it visits the oast coast of Otago every year in February and March, and when the schools migrate they extend as far as tho oye can reuch, followed by n multitude of gulls, muttonbirds, barracouda, and porpoises. So densely packed are they some years that by dipping a pitcher i» the sea it would contain half lish, so that if large boatß acd suitable nets were employed thousands of tons could be caught. In the beginning of April they appear in Queen Charlotte Sound and aro caught in large numbers, and converted by salting and smoking into the highly-ebteemed Picton herring. Towards the end of April they appear on the coast of New South Wales, but nevertheless it is very probable that these herrings do nob really migrate beyond retiring to the deep water off shore to deposit their spawn." Mr Fell, writing to Mr Arthur, says : "The fish is found all round Queen Charlotte Sound, and also the adjoining Poiorus, bub is only caught here (Picton).. Generally lb is believed that they do not extend outside, but tny half-caete fisherman maintains that, if sought for properly, they would be found all round Blind Bay and in the Strait, They are not easy fish to find unless they aro rushing to the surface, which is hot often, and is a most peculiar sight Those herrings are in Queen Charlotte Sound during the whole year/ bub only cotoe into

the shallow bays during winter. At that time of tho year they keep together in large shoals, but in summer time they keep more apart, and aro sometimes caught then, though rather hard to find. No systematic fiehing goes on during the summer; the fish prefer colder water, and thus leave the shallow bays when spring Bets in. They spawn during summer, and aro always full of roe about Christmas time, and then keep in small shoals. As to the probable numbers visiting the Sound, it is difficult to say, but four smoke-houses were kept going all lasb winter (1882). The hauls made average 1£ to 2 tons, but at times 10 tons have boon landed."

They appear only occasionally in the Dunedin market. They are very abundanb in the Auckland waters, Mr Wilson states, and especially so at the - Thamos,... which he coneiders ono of the best fiehing places in the colony. They como in large eboala, he says, bub no attempts havo been made to catch them.

The Picton herrings, which have long been a popular article of diet for breakfast ÜBe in Auckland, are now being made up by tho Union Preserving Company, of Queen Charlotte Sound, in boxeß containing twelve carefully selected fishe?. No doubt this lino, both because of its handinosa for household use and its excellence, will greatly extend the trade.