A FISH FAMINE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 231, 29 September 1902, Page 5

A FISH FAMINE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.

There is an unprecedented shortage in the fish supply of Christchurch. At the time of the early sale in the public market yesterday not a single fish was offered, and at a sale held later there was a very meagre supply, and prices went up to absurdly high figures. Small flounders a little over standard size sold in the open market at 14/6 a dozen, or about 1/2 each. Crayfish large and small were sold to fishmongers at 12/ per dozen, butter fish up to 3/ each, whitebait at 7/9 a quart wholesale, flounders 15/, 16/, 17/ and 18/ a dozen, cod from 10/ to 13/ per dozen; ling 9/ each; Conger eels 7/6. Fishmongers state that they can do nothing, and some of them are talking of putting up their shutters for a time. One shop on Thursday was closed on account of lack of business. It opened again yesterday, but all the goods it displayed were some cockles and rabbits. The fishmongers state that the shortage has never been so serious before. A similar state of affairs seems to exist all over the colony. Advices from Auckland, Napier,' Wellington, Dunedin and the Bluff state that the demand is far in excess of the supply. At Napier 6d a pound is charged for flounders irrespective of condition or quality. A letter received from a fishmonger at Oamaru states that he has had practically nothing in, his shop for three weeks.