Crayfish From Wrecked Boat 'A Health Hazard’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 12

Crayfish From Wrecked Boat ' A Health Hazard’

(New Zealand Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, April 1. Greymouth people face a definite health hazard if they eat crayfish tails washed up on the Cobden Beach after the wrecking of the fishing boat Norah yesterday on the north breakwater of the Greymouth Harbour, according to the inspector of health at Greymouth (Mr D. W. Lorrimer).

“1 would not remotely dream of looking at them, and I would definitely advise people against eating them," he said. “They will make good manure, and that’s all." Mr Lorrimer said that the river was in flood at the time, and there was a good deal of "muck" being carried down the river, apart from sewage from Greymouth. Some of the more determined crayfish lovers from Cobden have enjoyed something of a “bonanza” in the breaking up of the boat and the scattering of its cargo of crayfish tails, which has been estimated at £2BOO in value. Some went into the surf last night to collect tails before they could be washed up on the beach. Collections ranged from just a few to a sugar-bag full or more. One man who collected about a dozen said today that the tails were m fairly good condition, but some had been spoiled. “It was just a matter of running them under a cold tap to get rid of a bit of sand an £. they were right,” he said The Greymouth reporter of The Press” said that the owner of the boat, Mr R. S Marley, of Cobden, trad written off the cargo. He said it

was not insured, but that the vessel carried an insurance of £4500. Mr Marley said he had suffered a big loss in personal gear, including a new shotgun valued at £l7O, and a rifle equipped with telescopic sights valued at about £7O. “I hope to be able to get going again, but it is going to be a big hurdle. It is hard to obtain suitable boats now,” said Mr Marley. The latest loss was not the first misfortune which Mr Marley had suffered with the boat About 10 years ago it sank at its moorings. On that occasion it was refloated after it had been pumped out. A cargo of soles was lost, however.