THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 15

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT. VISITING EXPERT'S VIEWS. [THE PSBBS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, May 1. Mr James G. Michie, one of the most, prominent wholesale fish merchants of Aberdeen, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand, in an interview to-day, said he was convinced that there were great possibilities ahead of the fishing industry in New Zealand if the problem were tackled in a businesslike way. He suggested that the Government might encourage the industry in its early stages at least by a bounty or subsidy. "My attention has been directed to the great industry of New Zealand, that of agriculture, and particularly that section of it which has to do with animal breeding Conditions here are very similar to those at Home. I paid a visit to a farm about thirty miles from' Auckland, a farm stocked with dairy cows and pigs> and I was disappointed to seo that the pigs were not what thev might have been. It struck mo that the question of the nutrition not only of pigs but of cows as well is a matter that could be profitably investigated. My connexion with the fishing industry and with the utilisation of by-products, notably fish meal, for food purposes, and my exigence of over thirty-five years leads me to the conclusion that of all countries I have visited New Zealand more closely resembles Great Britain in her sources of supply than any. Mr Michie said he had been interested to see from the newspapers that action was-being taken by the pig breeders of the Dominion for the grading of their stock, and also that they were taking Danish methods as their model. Remarking that Danish pig-breeders made extensive use of fish offal as a food, Mr Michie said that the popular belief that fish meal affected the flavour of bacon was unworthy of notice. The **gh # standard of excellence which the Danish claimed was largely the result of the scientific apportionment of fish meal to tne ration supplied to the pigs. Apart from the meal used fo* feeding animals there were other profitable uses to which fish offal could be put, said Mr Michie. There was the manufacture or glue. He could not over-stress the importance of the by-products so far as the fishing industry was concerned. They made all the difference between carrying on profitably and carrying on at a loss. ~ „, , j,. "The question of sardine fishing haa been brought under mv notice while I have been in the Dominion," he said. "While I am a firm believer m private initiative, I think it is the duty of the Marine Department to help any who may wish to exploit this particular branch of the fishing industry. I have no hesitation in saying that if the sardine industry were entered upon in New Zealand it wauld equal if not exceed the famous industries of France, Italy. Austria, and Norway. Of course, I am not suggesting what the Government ought to do. Thev know their own business best, and' lam a stranger here. 1 am onlv pointing to the possibilities. Questioned regarding his suggestion that the Government should pay a bounty to the fishing industry, Mr Michie said he was not suggesting that the bounty should be in any way extravagant The Government might give something to the man who caught the fish so that he might equip himself with a suitable craft, and a little to the man ashore who sold tho fish in order that he might make a profit. In the past the Scottish Board of Fisheries had paid bounties in order to encourage the fishing industry, and the result of the encouragement had been that to-day instead of receiving assistance the fishermen were paying a small fee to the Board. This revenue derived from the fishermen was spent in research work and so on. There was another aspect to be considered also. The encouragement of the fishing industry meant that more men took up a seafaring life, and in a seagirt country such as, New Zealand that "was of the utmost importance. He saw no reason why eventually New Zealand should not build up an export trade in fish. Discussing the depletion of fishing wnters by constant fishing, Mr Michie s"^- 1 that such was the efficiency of the I'H'dern engine for the capture of fish that the stock was depleted, but if an open season and a close season wero observed the area would recoup.