THE OYSTER SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 186, 1 May 1908, Page 5

THE OYSTER SEASON.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PICKING AND - ' SALE: f ' (DY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, April': 30. , All arrangements have, been completed for tho forthcoming local: oyster, season, which opens to-morrow, and will continue till October 31. This year, for: tho first time, the oyster industry, will be' under 'Government control, and tho oysters will be picked by men employed ,by the Marino Department, under tho supervision of Mr. L. F. Ayson, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries,' assisted by Mr. Bennett, local Inspector' ,of Fisheries. Tho beds to bo opened this. year, are those at Waiheko' Island, Sandspit Island, and Great Barrier, in tho middle and the Bay of Islands in the,' Northern-fisheries. At both divisions picking will ,stari> to-mor-row morning, and the pickers will be divided into two equal sections, one section'at each division. The inspectors will generally supervise tho work, but each barid of pickers, will bo under tho direction of an expert picker, whoso duty it will be to'see that thp, gathering, of tho oysters, is carefully and properly done. By working tho beds in this way it is anticipated that a regular supply'of oysters will be availablo for tho market, and as. other beds in the fisheries recover from tho depleted condition in which they aro.at.present they-will be. similarly., worked.', It..,is believed that the result will be an increased and regular supply. Oysters will bo'on the Auckland market by Saturday, but a : full supply for all requirements will not bo Available till the arrival of the .shipment from Russell oil Wednesday next/ From then on it is expected that thero will bo no difficulty in fulfilling, all orders, a largo number of which havo already been forwarded from tlie principal centres in both North and South Islands. Until a fully supply is availablo tho orders ill hand will bV partially fulfilled, and local requirements will,'as far as possible, rocoivo first attention. The oysters will, on discharge from the steamers, bo. stored at a Government depot, which .has been established in the. Auckland - railway station grounds. Tho depot will' be under the charge of Mr; J. T. Litcher/ 'The oysters",will be sold to the retailers at 12s.'6d.' a bag, which should permit of their being retailed at a moderate rate locally. Last year the wholesale price ranged from: 175.'6 d.. to. 255. per bag. To facilitate Government -' supervision of the industry as' much as' possible, two new. launches .trill • bo" used." and tho. trial trip of one. of | theso will be'made iii tho harbour this morning. "In the afternoon this launch will convey Inspectors, Ayson and Bennett to the fishing grounds, ,'sij "that these'officials may supervise the opening of tho beds for tli'o season. The' Department will have the oyster trado 'in. full swing by next week. As picked the, oysters;will.be.sont down to Auckland by'steamer',, What was advertised as-a'public meeting on the oyster iridustrv,' "convened, .lw'-Mr. .Tames Maloney; was held '<jutsido ! tho Thames Hotel last evening, .and,,a, large, erojvd assembled. The proceedings,;however,; were of a somewhat' indefinite'' character, "owing to the fact that Several; of tho .bystanders kent interrupting tho principal speaker; while •other bystanders occasionally entered into rather vociferous arguments on their. own account. It was.gathered from the.'tenor of" tfio speeches .made 'by Vtho.'';chnyener 'land' others that the meeting, was,',called to. object, to the oyster industry being made-a Government monopoly;' for the' reason that ' !'6nly , a limited number, of . pickers are to ..be einnloyed. toi -the-exclusion. of others, who have' heretofore earned their ( living, during ..tlie season at oyster picking. ' .'.