OYSTER CULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 12

OYSTER CULTURE.

, WEALTH FROM SEA. I DEPARTMENTAL SIDELINE. PROSPECTS FOR INDUSTRY. (Concluded.) Til previous articles the potentialities of the oyster industry were dealt with, I the methods of private culture in Aus- ' tralia were explained, and it was iiuli- • cated that under similar methods in | New Zealand there would be exceptional I prospects for the Auckland Province and national industry. J State control of the oyster industry ,111 New Zealand dates bn,'k to 11)08, and | the official records show that it lias been I little more than a Departmental sidelime. In tlie United States the value of ; the shellfish industry is valued annuallyj in millions, 111 Australia it is estimated I that the annual value is in the vicinity of £250,000, but the Dominion lags | very far behind with a small output | and small contribution towards the national wealth. Figures taken from tlie annual reports of the Marine Department for the past Jive years are illuminating, and go to • show that tlie oyster harvest is comparatively small and that it varies but little both in quantity and value. The „report for the 1931 season said that 5215 sacks were picked of a value of £0258, and a recommendation was made_ that a scientific understanding of the biology of the rock oyster was necessary for the rational exploitation of existing fisheries. It had been found that the waters of Kaipara ITarliour had a higher temperature than the harbours on tlie east coast, and that tray cultivation held promise. Experiments Made. During the year the marine biologist, Mr. M. W. Young, made an investigation of the rock oyster beds, and contended that in the Hauraki Gulf a radical change of policy was necessary. Transfers of oysters were made from Kawau to Coromandel to observe the effects in new surroundings, and it was found that there was 110 mortality of any consequence. Tlie beds were on the whole understocked. The tray cultivation experiments were continued at 1 Kaipara with good results. 111 the following year the crop was 4300 sacks and the Value £5430. The crop in 1033 was 4414 sacks, of a value of £5047. The crop in 1934 was 4717 j sacks, valued, at £5254. The report for I the year added that it had been found | necessary to keep down expenditure and I that cultivation had been reduced to a minimum. Last, year (the latest figures available) the rock oyster crop amounted to 5270 sacks, and the revenue £592.'). The principal supplies for the season were drawn from the Bav of Islands, 1009 sacks; the gulf, 1729 sacks; while the return from Coromandel was 350 sacks. The report refers to further financial economies and small expenditure on the j necessary work of keeping the beds in j order. It added that the demand in ] Auckland appeared to be in excess of the I supplies and that there seemed little [ ground for evnecting that an average of : more than 5000 sacks a year could bo ; obtained from the existing beds, witli- : out bringing the breeding stock too low for the safeguarding of future supplies. The Departmental figures show that .there are now poor returns from localities where oysters of best quality were once in abundance. Coromandel being a case in point. There, there is a long coastline, with headlands and indentations to supply the ideal conditions, and once the Coromandel crop was so great, that not only was the Auckland market well supplied, but there was a considerable surplus for other parts of New Zealand and export to Australia. At the time an enormous crop used to be gathered from Waiheke Island, which | has 011 its outer coastline much of the j natural conditions for oysters to thrive. I The last oyster season in Auckland i was one of the poorest 011 record. It 1 opened 011 May 31. and closed 011 the last j day of August. The crop was far below the estimate. For that fact a long spell of broken and rough weather was blamed by tlie authorities. Very Wide Field. The annual reports of the Marine Department cover a very wide field of activities, and oyster culture is but a comparatively small section and brief record of the activity of the year, the cost of maintenance, the crop and its value. The fisheries division has in its care whales and whitebait, shellfish and ordinary fish, the many and varied operations are dealt with, but in 110 | particular respect is there indication that from a marine source is the Dominion likely under present methods to develop industry 011 the scale that has been reached by other countries, despite I the fact that New Zealand waters are particular]}' prolific in marine life, and there is an enormous field for both research and investigation. There is evidence that there are Departmental officers, who have made a deep study of marine subjects, but there is 110 evidence that any Government has shown a disposition to take a bold course and deal with the subject with business acumen. State control of the oyster market has certainly not been a success, but there is just as much evidence to indicate that oyster farming could be a very large and profitable industry were it developed on the right lines by private industry, and the enormous area of coastline an dharbours exploited area of the best results. The records of recent years show that the supply gathered is scarcely enough for local needs, and that there is no margin for export. Never was the Dominion's need greater for profitable production, and here at hand is the opportunity for a form of intense cultivation and a prospect of reasonable financial reward for those prepared to work in the industry..