BLUE COD FROM CHATHAMS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26410, 2 May 1951, Page 8

BLUE COD FROM CHATHAMS

HOPE OF SUPPLY TO CHRISTCHURCH CO-OPERATIVE PARTY’S FREEZER The hope that the fishing industry at the Chatham Islands would be developed to allow a plentiful and cheap supply of fresh blue cod to be landed for consumption in Christchurch and the South Island was expressed in an interview with “The Press” yesterday by Mr G. Wiesner, a Chatham Islands settler,, who has been interested in the fishing industry since 1913. The part-owner of five fishing launches, only three of which are licensed, Mr Wiesner is visiting New Zealand and has inspected at Wellington the former harbour ferry Cobar, which has been converted into a freezer, with accommodation for the staff. The towing of the Cobar to the Chathams by the steamer Holmburn has been held up because of the seamen’s strike. The Cobar will be operated by co-operative fishermen, working Mr Wiesner’s launches. She will hold about 70 tons of fish. The Cobar will be anchored in Kaingaroa Harbour, which Mr Wiesner described as the safest and most sheltered haven on the Chathams. The harbour, hd said, was used in the olden days by the whalers. Captain Allsop, of the Tees, had informed him that he considered Kaingaroa the safest harbour, and he proved it by mooring the Tees there in the worst weather Mr Wiesner has seen coming into the harbour. Although rather exposed, Kaingaroa was protected from rough seas by a reef.

“For years, I have been trying to get the fishing industry established,” he said. “Recently, the fishermen obtained a rise in price from 2jd to 3d per lb. As the loss in cleaning is only 28 per cent., I cannot understand why the price of Chatham Islands cod to the public of New Zealand who are given the opportunity of buying it is so high. My aim through the years has been to get a better supply of the fish, the quality of which is better than the Stewart Island cod, to the Christchurch market. Although I have been farming at Kaiwata, my chief interest has been the study of the fishing industry and the watching of every move.”

The islands had a splendid future, he was sure. The attractions for tourists were numerous, but the accommodation problem had to be faced. He had considered a scheme of building some houses at Kaingaroa for tourist use. Transport was another problem. A cut had been made and remained open at one period for 11 years and drained Te Whanga Lagoon. If the cut was made again, a road linked by two small bridges at each end over “black" water, could be built to give access to Kaingaroa. Shipping freights were a problem, he said, but the islanders could assist the shipping company by a systematic placing of orders, so that the company could know the nature and quantity of the goods to be shipped on any voyage.