FISH AND FRUIT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15728, 23 October 1916, Page 9

FISH AND FRUIT.

AKAROA'S PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES

Regular visitors to Akaroa need 110 reminder of the plentiful supply of. excellent foli provided for their table (writes our correspondent). At certain seasons the harbour abounds in flat fisli. lfc is on record that two fishermen, ono very well known in past years as Now Zealand's champion 6culler, netted 133 dozen flounders and soles as the result of dragging some of the shallow bays of the harbour on five successivo nights. This happened tw 0 or three years ago. Our city friends are consumed with envy when we tell them that we have flounders brought to tho door early in the morning for one shilling the bundle, and there' are always three or four-in the bundle; and, -what is-as much-to the point, they have been out of tho water but an hour or Hwo. For some few -weeks now, three oil launch fishing craft, visitors from the South, have been trawling outside tho Heads. They must have struck a particularly fine fishing ground, for invariably they havo returned to the wharf well laden ■with flat fish, many of them of unusual size. An effort has been made more than one© to obtain somo means of rapid daily transport of fish to tho Christchurch market. It is suggested that the Government might very well subsidise a motor lorry to carry fish from vlie wharf at Barry's Bay to the railway at Little River. Tho Mayor of Akaroa is interesting himself in the matter,' and intends sounding the Minister of Railways with respect to the proposition wh'en he sees him in Christchurch in a day or two. Fruit, trees thrive in this district. Fertile, sunny hillsides, a gonial climate, a plentiful rainfall, and shelter from the strong prevailing winds of the Canterbury Plains,, these arc tho factors accounting for the wonderful growth. Tho prospects this season are unusually good. A month ago the lavish blossoming of the peach, apricot, cherry, and nectarine made one feel justified in predicting a. record crop. And now the apple trees are not one whit behind their stone brethren in their wealth of floral display. Our intending summer visitors may rest assured that the supply of luscious fruit will more than equal the demand. It is a matter for regret, that, for tho fruit, also, there is not some cheaper method of conveying it quickly to Christchurch.