WHITEBAIT CATCHES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 12

WHITEBAIT CATCHES

Better Fishing In Grey River (From Out Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, October 3. Improved catches of whitebait have taken place in the Grey river this week, some of the fishermen having obtained more than sufficient for their own purposes. They have sold their surpluses at riverbank prices of Bs, 10s, or 12s 6d per lb. Bigger yields have also come from the South Westland area. A consignment of about 20001 b was flown out on Monday, a large part of which was sent on to the Christchurch market,* where it sold at from 16s to 18s per lb. '

There have been few whitebaiters fishing streams in the Buller area this season who have had much reward for their patience, in spite of a few good catches in the Buller river in the last three days. There has been nothing to indicate that the season in the Buller area will be any better than the very poor one last year. The net price paid by dealers on the riverbank is still 8s per lb, most of the whitebait going to the Christchurch and Wellington markets.

Of the few good catches reported, one man caught 801 b near the mouth of the main stream of the Buller river on Saturday. Other catches have ranged from 301 b to the modest pint.

It seems that the whitebait have struck in at certain points, and very little has been seen on the Westport side of the Buller, or even further upstream on the south side. There have been occasional dabs of fish in other rivers and streams—on one day last week there was a small run in the Orowaiti river.