Whitebait Piling Up At Westport

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 1

Whitebait Piling Up At Westport

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, October 12. Whitebait were still streaming up the Buller river yesterday, the fourth day of a run reminiscent of the old days.

Dealers were working hard in the morning to cope with the sales from hundreds of people who have flocked to the banks of the Buller, Orowaiti and Mokihinui rivers and streams in the Karamea area. It was impossible to get the full quota away from Westport by air on Monday and 9001 b of the, 21001 b delivered to the National Airways Corporation office had to be held back.

It is estimated, however, that about 60001 b has been sent by air to Wellington in the last four days, including a consignment by special aircraft on Sunday evening. A considerable quantity

continues to leave for Christchurch by road. There had been a slight lull in the Buller river on Monday but yesterday the whitebait came in a long wide procession.

On the Orowaiti river there was the biggest run of the season and catches up to 60 to 801 b were common. Quite a large quantity came from the country and some Westport dealers found it difficult to get sufficient containers to provide for the rush.

At the N.A.C. office there was not room for the big pile of whitebait tins and some were spread on the footpath outside.