OYSTER SEASON

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24800, 14 February 1946, Page 4

OYSTER SEASON

OPENING AT BLUFF TO-DAY

The season in which dysters may be taken will open at Bluff to-day, and the first of the oyster boats will leave for the beds at an early hour this morning. Just when the first of the oysters will arrive in Christchurch was not known yesterday by retailers, who said that this largely depended on the state of the weather at Bluff. If the weather is fine, it is probable that the first of the oysters will arrive on Saturday, and will be op sale on Monday. Some years ago the Oyster Derby marked the opening of the season, and was a race from Bluff to Invercargill with the first consignment. The race has not been held in recent years. Many of the oysters that come to Christchurch are sold in the cooked fish shops, fried, or raw, but when the Arbitration Court makes a new award for fish retail employees, a clause is expected to be included that will debar the sale of raw oysters after the hour of closing for the fresh-fish shops. In the definition of “fresh fish,” oysters were not previously included, but by agreement at a recent sitting of the Conciliation Council in Christchurch, raw oysters were added to the definition.

Retailers of cooked fish are not likely to be greatly affected by the new regulation when it comes into force, 'according to statements made to a representative of “The Press” yesterday. In recent years the supply has not been sufficient to meet the demands, and under these conditions there will be no difficulty in disposing of all the oysters procurable after they have been cooked.