AUCKLNAD FISHRIES FUTURE

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 26 (Supplement)

AUCKLNAD FISHRIES FUTURE

•/^LTHOUGH the coast I'ctrospcctively. because it has practically no past. Comparatively it has no present, but that it" will have a very considerable future anyone who takes the trouble to even cursorily look into the subject will be hardly able to conscientiously deny. It is strange, considering how far back the value of the colony's maritime asset was recognised that there should not be at the present day existent more than a germ of an industry dealing with it. Mr John Munro, in a memorandum to the Joint Committee on 'Colonial Industries' in 1871, said: M do not only believe, but I know, that there is an inexhaustible source of national wealth swarming unmolested round these islands, and on sunken, rocks not yet discovered, that will yet be a profitable resource to the laborious fisherman, and contribute largely to the aggregate prosperity of the country.' Mr McLeod, giving evidence about the same time before the Auckland Provincial Council, was evidently much of the same opinion, if one is to judge by his statement that he was engaged for seventeen years in the North American fisheries, but found that 'New Zealand possesses better fishing grounds than either America of Newfoundland.' This way of putting the case does not perhaps convey to most people a comprehension of what a sweepingassertion this is, and it may not be out of place to give here some figures as to the output of the main fisheries of the world. Such figures must necessarily, from the nature of the subject, partake more of the nature of est.--mates than statistics. The Dogger Bank, North America, comprises only some 62.5.0.. square miles, yet the an-, t^^'':trorn it is between four and'five million pounds sterling. British fishermen draw from the sea round Great Britain and Ireland an annual harvest valued at not less than £ 10.000,000: the United States fisheries show a return of about £8,000,000 a year and Russia's estimated return from the sea is £5,000,000 during every 12 months. Canada's fish industry 'amounts to about £4,000,000, a sum to which the annual yield of the fisheries of France closely approximates: while tho returns from j.a.v Norway, Spain and Holland are all "more tlian £1,000,000 annually. Such figures convey some sort of impression of the immensity of the flan industry of the Old World. Some will take Mr McLeod's comparison of New Zealand waters as being equal to those of America and Newfoundland, viewed in the light of the immense return the latter countries make from their fisheries as presumption, but it should be remembered that our coastline is over 5000 miles, and that it is generally admitted that the waters simply teem with fish. A Commission on fisheries that took evidence in Tasmania some rears a«*o came to the conclusion that as a baTsis of an industry it wasnec. rosary 'to learn accurately of each species, its migratory habits, its seasons, the time, mode and place ot soawning, the nursing grounds of the voum>- fry, their natural enem.es, then feeding grounds In the adult stage, their vitality in imprisonment, as in the wells of boats, etc. For if we are jo-norant of these matters we cannot hope that good results will follow. Although this was a good many years 00-o. Tasmania is probably still in need of such information just as New Zealand is for the completion of the programme proposed by the Commission would not be the •work of one man's but many men's lives.

In most countries of Europe and America are established marine observatories for studying the habits, development and life history of fishes suitable for a food supply, and of the lower forms of life upon which they in turn subsist. Very beneficial work has been done over a course of years at these observatories. At present in New Zealand what little knowledge we have of the habits of the fish that inhabit tho waters surrounding the coast has been very largely collected by one or two scientific men from uneducated fishermen. Practically, all that these fishermen know is that at certain seasons various kinds of fishes are plentiful in particular localities. For instance, with regard to grey mullet, the Mugil Perusii of the scientist and the Kanae of the Maoris, about which, owing to fairly careful observations made of its habits, particularly by those in the canning industry, more is perhaps known than aboxit any other New Zealand fish, it has nevertheless been a moot point as to whether a. close season should not be observed. It was known that the fish frequents mostly tidal rivers, going out to sea in summer and returning in winter in immense numbers, but little else was settled with regard to its mode of life. In a report laid before Parliament last session, however, Sir James Hector expressed the opinion that no close season was necessary, spawning taking place in open water two seasons of the year, summer and winter. This conclusion, however, was arrived at more on the evidence of those engaged in the trade than by personal observation. It is not the lack of varieties of fish on our coasts that is to be deplored, but the lack of information respecting them. The edible varieties of New Zealand fish compare very favourably with those of Great Britain. In the case of the latter there are 208 species enumerated as being either permanently found on the coasts or visiting them occasionally, but of this number only forty are considered as having a market--able value. In the case of New Zealand there have been distinguished only some 3710 different species of fish, and about many of them the information is very scant, but out if this number, almost as many are knowii,, as edible as in fhe case of Great Britain. Sir James Hector in roughly classifying these fish says: Tf we compare the assemblage of fishes that we find in New Zealand seas with those in the European region we i.nd on the whole they resemble those which are found on the coast between .Madeira and the Bay of Biscay more than those which are caught about the North of Scotland. If we contrast the thirty-three sea fishes that are fit to be used as food in New Zealand we have among the constant residents on all parts of our coast the hapuka, tarakihi, trevalli, mold, and (sea-mul-let) rock cod, wrasse, and patiki (flounder), and while the schnapper, mullet, and gurnet are only met with in the North, the trumpeter, red cod, and butter-fish are chiefly abundant in the South. But with the exception of the patiki, or flat fish, and the red cod, none of these are. representatives of fishes that are common in the South o' Britain, while from the more northern seas similar fishes are altogether absent. In addition to those which remain throughout the year, a. very large number of the fishes on the New Zealand coast, owing to its pos-ition, are pelagic in their habits, and roam over a wide range of ocean, visiting our shores only irregularly in pursuit of food. Of the edible fisher, of this class, by far the largest number are visitors from warmer latitudes, such as the frost fish, barrncoucla, horsemackerel, king-fish, Dory, warehou, mackerel, and gar-fish, while only the ling, hake, haddock, and a few other rare fishes, which are worthless as food; are among those of more southern types which reach New Zealand in their migrations.' These fishes are only those which are found close to the shore, for of the deep-sea fish in the ocean round

the islands nothing- practically is known. The sea away to the east of the colony, aud stretching; as far as the Chatham Islands, is undoubtedly influenced by a northern current coming- from the South Sea .Islands, which on striking the New Zealand coast turns oft' in an easterly direction. That this sea swarms with life is undoubted. It was to the eastward of "New Zealand that the dozens of whaling ships which, in the early days of

the present century, made the Bay of Islands their headquarters, used to cruise after the sperm whale. The fact that this expanse wns si favourite feeding ground with the whales affords ample evidence that fhe water abounded with ihe Crustacea forming the food of these monsters of the deep. But accompanying this smaller species of maritime life are always plentiful fishes of larger dimensions. Tho whalers used to call the stretch from the East Cape away to the Chatham Islands 'The Banks.' The area thus designated has not been much explored, but it seems improbable that the word was used in the correct sense, and that any considerable 'bank' or shallow water extends to the eastward. Nevertheless, that the immense wealth of fish common in New Zealand waters is not confined to the immediate vicinity of the coast is certain. The shores of Auckland Province swarm with various fish, but those most commonly seen in th? local market are the schnapper, mullet, flounder, gar fish, kahawai, sprats, and

gurnet. About the latter fish the Maoris have an interesting legend. The story runs that at one time all fish were alike in shape and colour. A Maori woman, deserted by her husband, came to the god of the fishes, Tangaroa, and invoked his assistance in punishing her unfaithi'ul spouse. Tangaroa collected a big force and gained, by the aid of the fishes, ;i great victory over the settlement where the unfaithful husband was re-

siding. Desirous of rewarding his subjects the fish for their assistance, Tangaroa granted them any request that: they might make. The antecedents of the present gurnard tribe were among the first lo speak up. They proffered a request that they might be red in colour, and be able. to groan like a dying man. hence the brilliant colour and grunting noise of the gurnard which frightens many an uninitiated angler in Auckland waters. Speaking of angling, it may be remarked that the schnapper. hapuka. and shark provide excellent sport. Visitors to Auckland enjoy nothing better than an afternoon's fishing in the (lull-, where.'i moderatesized party under favourable conditions and with good luck may catch' several hundred schnapper. More exciting sport is provided by the ha-' puka, which grow lo a considerable size, occasionally weighing as much as 130 pounds, but which are only caught on certain ground; or by sharks, several species of which are found in great numbers ;.t certain seasons all round the New Zealand coast. The hapuka, it may be men-

tioned, is better fish for table purposes than the cod. Mullet, which Froude, the historian, compared with the best English and Scotch salmon, is commonly,netted in tidal estuaries, and is so infrequently caught-by line that thei'e'is. a very widespread -impression that it never takes the hook, Patiki, or flounder, which, although hardly as. fine in flavour as English sole is far preferable to the English fish bearing- the same name, is almost entirely taken in nets for market purposes, very little spearing being done. Less commonly known, but nevertheless plentiful round the Auckland coast, are the rock col, mackerel, Pilchard (practically the same fish as the sardine), and trevalli.

The census returns for 1896, the latest available with regard to the fishing industry, showed that there were 64 boats used in the fishing trade, exclusive of fifteen boats owned by Maoris and used for oyster gathering. The total number of persons employed in the industry Avas stated as J2B, and the amount annually paid in wages as £4,915. These figures may be taken as practically representing not only the labour in the supply of the local fresh fish market, but in providing the raw material for the fish-smoking, curing and canning establishments. There were at the time the above quoted figures were collected, some thirteen such works, employing 42 hands, and paying in wages £2000. The quantity produced in 1895 comprised 1,."100,000'lbs. of cured fish, valued at £5,66:5, and 113,304 lb of fish tinned, valued, at £1,888, a total of 1,413,304 lb, valued at £7,521. The fish cured, almost entirely what is known as smoked fish, doubled in quantity from the previous return, taken in 1890, but the tinned fish correspondingly decreased by something more than half. This canning industry is still carried on at the Kaipara, where the mullet, almost exclusively used, are plentiful on the immense stretches of fiats found in all the tidal indentations of the big harbour. The process followed is cooking, at a temperature of about 240 degrees Fahr. for 40 minutes. The tins are then sealed, all but a small hole for the escape of steam. After a second cooking under similar conditions to the first, the pin hole is sealed while the temperature is still above 212 degrees, and if the operation has been capably carried out an almost absolute vacuum is formed. It takes, on the average, a whole fish to fill a one-pound tin. The output of this tinned mullet is sold in Auckland and the South. The only export is a small one to the South Sea Islands. The exportation of fresh fish has on more than one occasion been tried to Australia, but with little success, and unless some way less detrimental to the flavour of the fish than freezing is brought, in the utilisation of the wealth of the sea about Auckland will have to be in cured and canned goods. That there is an opening for such an industry .seems undeniable, but it requires to be on a large scale, so that the finished article can be turned out, at a. lower cost and brought more within the reach of all, instead of being regarded very largely, as at presenilis a dispensable dainty.

An adjunct to the fisheries is of course (he oyster trade, 'fhe rock oysters to be obtained largely round (lie coast of the province, when carefully selected at fhe right season, compare very favourably with English natives. Of late years the beds have, however, been so carelessly stripped that .we are in measurable distance, if steps arc not taken to more effectually conserve the beds, of running short even for local supply. The export in 1896 was only 349,490 dozen (almost all from Auckland), valued at £2,334, but the gathering is conducted so carelessly that the item is a serious one. and it is questionable whether a heavy export duty would not be justifiable in the best interests of the permanency of the industry.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Soeiely has carried out an important work in the introduction of trout and 1 heir liberation in many of our streams. Their work has been, on the whole, remarkably successful, so much so that very good sport with line and rod is now obtainable in several parts of the province, while the YVaihou river is a very favourite trout-fishing ground. In Lake Rotorua the fish have thriven in such a remarkable manner that during certain seasons their capture at one corner of the lake with nets is allowed, and excellent fresh trout is then obtainable at the metropolitan fishmongers.

SHARKS-THEIR COMMERCIAL

VALUE.

Looked at purely from the standpoint of commercial value, the sharks that abound in our waters are a. valuable asset. We don't mean to suggest that a profitable trade is to be made in that noisome delicacy so dear to the Maori palate—dried,shark—but there are various parts of the fish that have a commercial value, aud an industry that directly lessens the number of sharks is to be commended, for the depredations of these voracious fish are considerable. In Tasmania some years ago the fishermen affirmed that the use of the deep-sea lines would be valueless on account of the numbers of sharks with which the waters swarm, and the same thing

holds good here, though perhaps to a less extent. That sharks are to be obtained in very considerable numbers is undoubted. Two men fishing in a small yacht some years ago on the coast caught some 700 sharks, varying in size from 3 to 12 feet. The liver of a shark very much resembles a spong-e soaked in oil, and either by boiling down or rolling this oil is easily expressed. The oil from the latter process is said to be of the better colour and gives less trouble. There is always a. steady demand

from China for shark fins, -which aTe consumed in large quantities there as a great delicacy. The skins..; also, where trouble is taken to cut them of., dry and cure them, possess a marketable value. Were the industry,.,conducted on anything like a considerable scale the "carcase could profitably be turned into manure,; as is done in the case of the extensive'shark fisheries of Norway, where, it may be mentioned the oil obtained by steam heating is of sufficiently fine quality, to be used largely as an illuminant.7;