FISH AND MUTTON BIRDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 4

FISH AND MUTTON BIRDS.

VISIT TO KERMADEC ISLANDS.

PROPOSED NEW INDUSTRY. , (by teleqsaph—special coebispokdknt.)

Auckland, January -7.

Mr. W. E. Cayloy Alexander, who accom-

panied-,tho Hinemoa Expedition to tho Ker-- ■ madcc Islands to roport upon their valuo for the establishment of a fish and oil industry, has given a "Herald" representative some . .interesting information. Ho'said ( tiie vessel arrived at Denhani Bay, Raoul (tho'principal island of the group), on December 31, and , here the members of tho scientific expedition,, ; who aro to- remain -' on ' "tho Ker-." madecs for ! twelve months -to study the geology : and : flora •- and-, fauna, were landed. The landing was through ; heavy surf 011 a shinglq- baach. On the flat at the back of tho beach Mr. Boil was growing profitably yams, taro, bananas, ■ melons, peaches, grenadillos/coffeo, lemons, citrons, ■ mulberries,.; kumcras,; numerous other" kinds of tropical'friiita and vegetables, and was able to do so throughout tho year/ in many casesiobtaining two \6r: -three crops. "As my object," continued Mr. Cayloy Alexander, "was principally to ascertain particulars as vto'the fisfi ; arid r muttonfcird supply, I made a special point of going inland first to collect data as/to the mutton, birds. iThere was only ;a limited time at my as the Hinenioa was to leave in :: tho afternoon. Tho mutton birds exist in 1 thousands, and were very tftrittjindeed. One ' could walk up to them and lift them • off ■ their nests. The mutton bird season at Raoul Island lasts from August to: April. : Ihe fish consist principally/of kingfish, : known locally as','yellow tail,' hapuka, rock cod, ■ and tho blue fish, moki tarakihi, and. vast quantities of sharks and whales. The fish • exist all around the rocks, and frequently • are there: in such quantities that , they ac-' dually force one another out of the water. . .They attain a great size, the kingfish fre- ■ quently'attaining 6ft. in length, although ■ the average school fish is about 4ft. long. "(The blue fish is peculiar to the Kermadecs. , 'It is tho shapo ; of a bream, and of a 'dark-blue colour, 'and'- averages ■ JOlb. weight. It cures remarkably well, and should fetch a high price amongst epicureans'. . jThe prevailing winds are: —January to April, . -N.-E to S.-E.; Maylto August, W.-to < and .September to January, calm, light, and .variable winds. J On tho afternoon of December 31 we weighed anchor, and started for Meyer Island, known as Tho Dromedaries, on account of the shapo. Meyer Island is situated about half a 1 mile north-east of Raynor ' Point,-Raoul'lsland, and is distant from Dunham Bay about nine miles. There is an excellent' boat harbour at Moyer Island, perfectly safe, in all but easterly and. northeasterly" winds. This, however, could bo ■ made safe in all weather by. a'little blasting. ■ -There are several caves on the. island';which ' good store-houses.;! TJnfortu- ■ nately, r there is no fresh''water:' This will have to-bo provided for by the erection of sheds' with tanks to catch water,' and an ■ underground- concrete- reservoir so ;as- to bo xeady for the rainy season. The fish'and , ■ mutton;birds are hero in great quantities, - although there are more of' the latter at Raoul Island, and,, strange to say, there are 1 numbers of parrakeets on this island, whilst there are nono on Raoul, half a mile away; .and while tho mutton bird season on Raoul :ia-. : ; from August to'Apfilj on Meyerlslartd' it'*is' • from April to August, and the bird is of a -, somewhat different typo. The island is not so,fertile as Raoul, but sufficient fruiWand ; vegetables.could bo grown.,- . -V,- 1 ; "Whilst anchored oif Meyer Island,.we paid a'visit to Mr. Bell's old'homesteaa ( pn,. ; tho north side of the island." 'Hero tKOTeVabqund •orange groves, lemons, peaches, .ctcX arid if it were not for the'.'.preSent--inapcesßibility of its' position and ■ difficulty, 'ofiy^hipmeiit,. ;it ■ : could easily bo made. the'garde'iVbf?-A.uckland v . by. systematic ,-,Thivi'difficulty;, .. .could be ovcrcomo by ; aerial but, in any case, : a regular service of steamers would;, «•« tained.. In the case^of.'the birds, a three-monthly serrice'by ari'auxiliary ' vessel-would be sufficient. "On January 2 we spent the day at Macaulay Island. This : is. about. 55 - frt'ileS froinMeyer Island, and a - landing was effected in Sandy Bay. Tho island is ;covcred with grass,. and ■ there are ~ large ' numbers of parrakeets and goats'on it. The latter for the most part were in a very poor condition,owing to the dry weather. There was only one tree visible - on tho island:-: There are' but few-mutton, birds hero,' but" plenty of fish. The landing w;as accomplished without: difficulty on the beach, whence wo . made, our way round to the lavacascado, arid tliero climbed tho cliffs to reach-tho store depot; erected for the use of shipwrecked seamen, and then examined the island. The stores' wero intact, and we saw 110 sign of 'wreckage anywhere. -.. 7 .-. : ■■■<■ "On January 3 we visited 'Curtis Island,' - distant 22 miles south by west from Macaulay Island. This island is a • miniature volcano, and steam was seen issuing'from'all parts of-it. It has the best boat harbour : of any island_ in the group, at Macdonald Covo. There, is there a store depot for shipwrecked seamen. It would Ijo impossible at this : stage to utilise .this island in any .way, although . there are' 1 vast - quantities • of" fish' round about. Subsequently', wo proceeded to Lesperanco Rock, a barren, mass of volcanic rock, and thence homewards. "I am satisfied," concluded Mr. .Cayloy 'Alexander, "that with officicnt management the islands offer a most profitable field, as there are, beyond • doubt, such liugo quantities of fish and mutton birds as to cause me to believe all the statements "concerning the capabilities;- of these islands', which' I thought' were • grossly exaggerated until £ went and saw for, myself. ■:Indeed, I feel now that tho best -accounts'ever given me ' of the group were considerably underestimated. I have every confidenco in recommending tho Kermadecs as a base of operations for an Auckland fish and. oil industry."^