SHARKING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1906, Page 3

SHARKING.

A NEW INDUSTRY. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. In Woollams' the chemist's window, South British Buildings, there are samples of sharp products manufactured at the new factory established at Lower Matakana, consisting of oil, fertiliser eggs and fins. The oil is bright '.rid clear, and being an absolutely pure .ill liver oil, it is valuable for medicinal uses. At present a i*eady sale for it

is found with the dairy factory suppliers, -who mix it with the skim-railk for calf-feeding* it being an excellent substitute for the butter-fat extracted from whole milk.

The fertiliser is similar in. appearance to ordinary bonedust, but has a stronger analysis, having 13.51 .psr cent, of ammonia, compared ■with 4 per cent, of ammonia, the standard analysis o* bonedust. Shark fertiliser is deficient in bone phosphate, the lesser valuable component of ordinary bonedust; but this may be.added by mixing the Southern phosphate, and this mixture would produce within the colony a nitrogenous phosphatic fertiliser superior ■to • bonedust.

The shark eggs shown are similar in size and appearance to new potatoes. They are treated separately, and consist largely of' albumen. Sample lots have been tried by poultry farmers, and from tests made this food is appreciated by them for egg-producing. .In Eastern Asia fish food is largely used for runner ducks, and they are known to lay 3C5 eggs per annum each bird. As the poultry industry will take a prominent part in futurity, foods of "this description will be in good demand.

The fins are shipped to China and made into soup, which ie considered a great delicacy by the Chinese.

The sharking is done by the settlers in Kawau Bay. The area is limited to a radius of five niiies, while there is an abundance of sharks about,, the supplies to the factory are not up to expectation. The largest individual fisherman's day's catch this season was 70 sharks. There are a number of details to overcome to increase supplies, viz., bait, altered methods of fishing, more fishermen, etc. Rough weather is a hindrance to sailing boats: it requires oil launches;

The season lasts six months and the industry wants more extensile upei- - ations and to be worked with depots, on the creamery system. As the whole of our Northern coast is teeming with sharks and the destruction of the natr ural enemy of the market fish, and the conversion of an enemy into ■ a -friend, must be beneficial and a desirable object. Although the city dealers speak of over production, gluts, etc., that is the fauljb of proper distribution of cheap wholesome fish food. ~

The machinery at' the factory is capable of treating 500 oOlbs. usual size sharks daily, and consists, ; of •an eight horse-power Tangyes colonial type boiler and engine, hydraulic press, digestor, Beaney's new pattern disintegrator, capable of grinding one ton per hour, also a patent basket. mill_.for grinding material that will not flow, steam dryer, steam pumps, steam jacket pans, etc. with high pressure water supply throughout with suitable and convenient modem galvanised buildings with concrete floors, etc.

The factory is in charge of Mr William Hicks, an experienced and skilled manufacturer from Buenos Ayres, who is hopeful to add to the above products, shagrun, fish glue, gold-beaters skin, etc. :.-.-••

This quixotic business is being exploited by the New Zealand Industrie* Co., Fort-street, Auckland, and is the conception of Mr Vivian, and developed as a means of preventing and freeing the colony of anthrax and other microbes, which admittedly come to the colony, matured and in embroyo, in imported bonedust. He is hopeful of producing in quantity a superior nitrogenous p'hosphatio fertilizers within the colony. .; l -