THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 274, 18 November 1910, Page 6

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

(to the Editor.) Sir,—PleaSe correct a mistake in tdjr letter in a reply to Mr. Green. The bundles should have been from 4 extra large, to 16 small.—l am, etc., A BRITISH FISHERMAN. (To the Editor.) Sir, —"British Fisuerr_an" states tbe dealers are supplied with .bundles containing forty-eight fish for 2/, whereas the number of fish in a bundle never exceeds sixteen and may be any number from four to sixteen fish. Again he states that the wholesale dealer buys at two shillings a bundle, and sella at threepence per fish, thus trying ii make the public believe that the wholesale man gets twelve Shillings per bundle, the real fact being that our wholesale price is towo shillings and sixpence per bundle. "British Fisherman" would again' lead the public to believe that |fishteri—en are only ■__owed to catch forty to sixty .bundles per week. This is also absolutely false, for my company are taking from individual boats up to over twenty sovereigns' 'worth per week. With reference to the docking alluded to -by '•"British Fisherman" it must toe admitted that there is a large proportion of spent fish in every catch which have to be strictly - rejected as entirely unfit for human consumption. If the fishermen were all to adopt the proper course of throwing out all spent fish there would be no docking by tbe dealers. In regard to bapuka, which "British Fisherman" states is .bought at lid per pound, he neglected to tell the public; that that price, is" paid.for heads and insides, which constitute at least one third of the whole fish. I am quitesatisfied that the Writer of the letter to which I am replying is not a British Fisherman. Were he true to his name he would not have been wilfully guilty of making such inaccurate assertions, but would at any rate have given evidence of fair play, which stamps the true Britisher. Again I am equally sure that he is not a Colonial, because the whole tenor of his letter shows that he is ignorant of the conditions prevailing in the Auckland' fishing industry. "British Fisherman" states that Auckland fishermen would bail with delight the establishment of a municipal fish market. If this were the case how" was it that when the Auckland Gity Council circularised the fishermen of tbe port on this question, no steps were taken by the fishermen to bring about a charge in that direction? It is obvious From the apathy displayed on the matter that fishermen did not wish, to have, their fish auctioned. Should the Government step in and take control of the wholesale fishing industry the delight would be on the side of the retailer, and the sufferers would undoubtedly be the usherineri.—l am, etc., SAML. GR,EF_v. Managing Director Oceanic Fish Co., Ltd. (To the Editor.) Sir, —"A British Fisherman" states that the men are told off on. what lays to fish and when to arrive. Rot! Chat only happens for -bout three Donths of the year (school-fish period), md, of course, this is during, the very lot weather, when they can leave "their floorings and arrive back loaded with ish within a few hours. Do the- fishernen lower their prices at this period? Slot they! If they were allowed to wing up twice 1 the number, they would lot drop the .prices. They would ather strike, as they did on _ previous rccaeion. He further states that ho hUow-nce iis made for (bad weather, vhen no fish can 'be caught. Well, it ill depends on What is to be' Called bad veather. Just for five minutes let one aunter along the bottom end of'Queentreet even when .the weather is pernittable for them to depart for the 'Tounds, and one will .be astonished to cc groups of so-called fishermen around he corners. The question: "Why is sh so scarce?" is easily answered. The eal fishermen are out and in, but they re few and far 'between. The markets eta.il to mc, as a dealer, a bundle of rirnapper (16 fish) for 2/6. The fisheraan gets 2/-; I sell to the public at 3d. ach. Truly, a wonderful margin of ,proit for both latter (parties, considering ■11 expenses attached to the distriburd_: of fish. Re that glorious delicacy, he noted hapuka, otherwise whapuka, A British Fisherman" admits be gets id. per lb. (uncleaned). Now, anyone fell up in the trade knows that to llow one-third for tho offal and head 3 not too much. The heads are not aleaible to any extent whatever, and he outside price for a large one is 1/-. his brings the market-paid price to bout 2Ad. per lb. I am charged 3id. Rom the markets. I retail at 6d., after utting up!—wonderful margin of' prot again, considering loss in weighing, ad debts, etc As to being limited to 0 bundles a week in favourable west- ; her, that is utterly false. I can prove 'Hefe fishermen have made on an averge £15 per week for months, two ien in a 'boat, and yet they would not rwer the prices. See the point ine! It is to be hoped 'that when the-khed-fbr municipal markets arrive, the rice- of fish will not go up wholesale -d retail, as did the oysters, nearly

■+$ ij ent \ l addition 6 up-to-date 8