THE WHITEBAIT SEASON

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 6

THE WHITEBAIT SEASON

Opening in South Island To-day PLANS FOR LICENSING DELAYED The whitebait season will open in the South Island to-day, add although it may be some weeks before the catches arc large enough lo bring the price of the delicacy within the limits set by thrifty housewives, the indications are for a very good season indeed. The season will open, 100, without the restrictions foreshadowed by the Government’s annual report on lisheries, submitted to the House of Representatives a few days ago. Which stated that the white: r.it industry was lo be subject to licensing. Mr A. E. Heftord, Chioi. Inspector of Fisheries, who was communicated With in Wellington by telephone last evening, told “The Press” that in the meantime the regulations which had gov-' erhed whilebailing in the last ybar or two would remain in operation this season. “The department has had many inquiries about the position, but it is simply this; the regulations have been revised, but owing to the pressure of war work on the department, they are not yet ready to be gazetted. Licensing will not be possible this season, but it is likely that there will be some consolidation of the regulations governing the industry. In the meantime the season opens in the South Island 10-momny, and the old regulations apply." Mr M. Hope, district inspector to the department, told a reporter of “The Press” yesterday that it was intended lo enforce very strictly the existing regulations. One of the most prevalent offences in whitebait Ashing was the crowding of nets, and Mr Hope said that the regulation providing that no one ‘may Ash for Whitebait within two chains of a person already Ashing would nave to be observed scrupulously! The prescribed distance applies to distanCcs'across a river as well as up and clown. Small Runs Reported Whitebait have been reported In the Wsliniakariri in the last few days, and They have been in evidence in the Avon all the winter. This is regarded as a promising sign for. good runs, but the controlling factor is flooding in the rivers. So far there have been Very few floods of any magnitude on cither side of the ranges, although the West Coast rivers have had a feW freshes. The life history of the whitebait is interesting. Mr Hope explained to the reporter that each season tne whitebait gc up the rivers and grow into manga, Jr minnows, which arc the fully-grown Whitebait. In the whiter they return to the mouths of the rivet's to spawn. The spawn ts delivered, always at high water of a spring tide, in weeds, rushes, or anything of a rough nature that is just within reach of the highest tides. A glue-like substance holds the spawn to the growth until it is ready lor hatching. At this stage the glue breaks down and the succeeding spring tide carries the spawn to the sea. The young whitebait are hatched almost as soon as the spawn reaches the salt Water, and within a week of hatching the flsh are finding their way into the rivers. The spawning season in Canterbury is June, and on the ‘West Coast it may be as early as May. An early run, said Mr Hope, did not necessarily mean a heavy run. In any case the full weight of the run might not be felt until September or even late October. The present regulations restrict the circumference of whitebait nets used in the Avon, Waimakariri and Styx rivers to 13 feet. Boats arc not permitted to bo used for whitebait fishing in the Avon or Ashley rivers Olin any river where brushwood groynes are authorised. •