THE EXPORT OF OYSTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1900, Page 2

THE EXPORT OF OYSTERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I wish to point out through your'columns the necessity of having the export of oysters opened to Sydney and elsewhere, and the wrong done to numbers of persons, both Europeans and natives, employed m this industry in the north of Auckland, it being one of the sources of which a great number of the above members of the community earn a livelihood. Under the present conditions of the "Oyster Fisheries Act" about two thirds of the pickers formerly employed in the industry will be out of employment, there only being sufficient demand to insure orders for a limited number of pickers. Without the Sydney market the consumption of Auckland and the south is about two hundred sacks weekly, the bulk of which is supplied by the Auckland pickers employed by the buyers themselves. As natives of the soil we think it but fair that we should receive a little benefit from our own natural beds when there are abundance of oysters, both rock and mangrove, to give employment to all Avho feel disposed to take out a license to pick; and I think I am safe in saying without causing any destruction to the beds. The destruction to the oyster beds is not caused by the quantity of oysters taken but the want of care in removing the oyster from the rock, consequently a great number of the young ones are destroyed.—l am, etc., SETTLER. " -el]. Bay of Islands.