THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 5

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

EVIDENCE OF INSPECTORS. GOVERNMENT AID SUGGESTED. The inquiry into the fishing conditions of Auckland was continued before the Commission yesterday and to-day, Mr. E. C. Cutten presiding. The Chief Inspector of Fisheries, L. F. Ay son, made a statement regarding the areas fa-\ ourable for trawling, nursery spots, and the effect of trawling on the Ssh and grounds. The principal flatfish supply must conic from Kaipara, Manukau, and Thames Gulf, cold storage being a means of extending the industry in the former legality. The nearer limits proposed would lead to temporary increased supply only. Witness supported establishing chilling plants along the coast, and agreed with the general opinion that louvre ventilated wagons were the bast for transportation. With a view to assisting the present fishermen, and opening up additional facilities, and so encouraging more fishermen, he made the following recommendations:—(l) That the Government advance money to fishermen for the purchase of boats and fishing outfits; (2) insurance of fishermen's boats by the State; (3) the erection of fishchilling and ice-making plants in outlying jsarts of the. coast, so as to prevent the loss of fish during warm weather, and ensure all tish reaching market in a perfectly fresh condition; (4) admitting all fishing nets, netting twine, fishing hooks, and lines, and all fishing, gear into the Dominion free of duty: (5) encourage fishermen to go in for purse seining by a practical demonstration of the use of thie net on the various fishing grounds around the coast. By this method fish can be taken in very lanre quantities, and at small cost in comparison to trawling; (6) giving a bonos on fish canned and cured for export, and also on the production of fertiliser manufactured from fish-offal and unmarketable fish, and for the manufacture of potash and other products from kelp and seaweed; (7) that the Government assist in procuring the necessary supplies of benzine, lubricating oil. nets, netting-twine, hooks, lines, and other material.

Further information of his practical knowledge of the Hauraki Gulf was given by James Phillip Bennett, Goveernment Inspector of Fisheries. He thought that the present limits might be altered, as in hie opinion trawlers did not do much harm to small fish outside five miles from land. He was satisfied from the demonstration given by the Baroona that there had been a serious depletion in the supply of fish.

Mr. Bennetts said Thames fishermen destroy a large number of .small flounder through the meshes of the nets being drawn together in under-running. The destruction done to fish by dynamiting, especially prior to the advent of the trawler, was severe. The results obtained at the present day. would not compare '"with the hauls in the past, and the result of the Baroona demonstration had. confirmed this opinion. He could not explain why the trawlers were get- ! ting big catches on their old fishing I grounds, while the Baroona got a small catch only in the protected area. Nurseries should be closed against trawlers, though not necessarily ag?.inst purseseine and net-fishing. At one time there were big fish in large quantities in Cabbage Bay. Evidently the different conditions according to season affect the movements of fish. On the present knowledge it is impossible to say positively that schnapper spawn in the Gulf; that was the theory of the fishermen. . -As to the proposed new limits, ,the area between Kawau and Takatu Peninsula was not fit for trawling, owing to the rocks. One of the chief objections of the trawlers to the line from Tiri to Cabbage Bay had been that it was too long. In considering the question of trawling limits, Mr. Bennetts added they had considered the matter of Jjold headlands and the preservation of the fish, but not the preservation of the trawling industry. He did not believe in protecting the large vessel and letting the little man go a long way out. He thought bays and estuaries should be protected. The captains had said they would be satisfied with Castle Rock as a landmark. A line from Thumb Point to Hoki Island would bear very nearly to Castle Rock. He considered the are:-. from the quarry to Manaia was a nursery for fish. The Department wanted to conserve for line and net fishermen* the area east of a line from Hoki Island along the coast until the Channel Island light was opened up. That area also was a nursery. Within it they got small fish. He had formed that oon- ; clueion by the recent test in the j Baroona. There had boon no other I operations. Anything up to 15 fathoms should be protected, and anything above that allowed to the trawlers. 'Whangaparaoa Bay should not be opened to the trawlers, because it was ■ an island bay, and it was reasonable to I suppose that young fieh were there. He j considered that not much of the evi- | dence before the Commission was founded on fact*. Further examined, .Tames P. Bennett said he thought there were {rood fishing i grounds around Mercury Bay and bej twecn Cape Colville and Great Barrier for trawling. Thu best fishing grounds are those with hard bottoms. No undersized fish will be caught if a Sin. schapper gear is used. Witness made suggestions as to various localities about the Gulf which would make suitable landmarks on the boundary line. CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH. Evidence of the industry North of Auckland was given by Francis P. Flinn, Inspector of Fisheries for the North Auckland district, stationed at Russell. In his opinion, from his experience of the Hauraki Gulf, all the shallow bays and sheltered places are homes for small schnapper, and the Gulf, from Cabbage Bay to Thames and down the other side of Takatu Point, are natural spawning grounds. The abundance of fish in the North was instanced by the statement that witness had fed schnapper out of his hand off Cape Brett. The ground there is rough, and trawling would be impracticable. The percentage of spent fish was very small, the fish generally being in a much better condition than in the Gulf. There are over 20 square miles of flounder grounds in the Bay of Islands in scattered areas. It would be possible to make arrangements for a good supply of fish from the Bay to Auckland of there were a supply of ice. At prasent there is no trade with Auckland. Assistance would he lent by the establishment of , chilling and ice-making plants somewhere lin the North, suitable sites being 'Wha- } ngaruru and Houhora-