CHRISTCHURCH HERRINGS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 16

CHRISTCHURCH HERRINGS

Export To Taranaki

Kippered herring from Christchurch is being made into fish paste by a Taranaki paste-and-spread manufacturer, according to the fishing industry journal “Commercial Fishing.” It is one of three main ingredients used by W. R. Linnell and Company, Ltd., which employs a staff of five at its Tariki factory, about 18 miles from New Plymouth. The company turns out 12,000 4oz jars of paste each week and supplies them to grocers throughout the country. All eight varieties of paste produced by the factory were first made experimentally by Mrs J. Ibbotson, a director of the company, in her own kitchen. She began the industry many years ago when she first made two varieties of paste for her family. Crayfish is the most popular of the pastes made there. It is made from the part of the crayfish that remains after the tails have been taken for export. The flesh of the bodies and legs is supplied, shelled and packed in polythene, from Whangarei.

The raw material for smoked fish paste comes from New Plymouth. Other pastes which the company would make if continuity of supply of the main ingredient could be obtained are deep-sea tuna, mussels, oyster and smoked roe. Between 400ib and 6001 b is required for each batch of paste.