FISHING VENTURE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 96, 17 January 1933, Page 10

FISHING VENTURE

Trawler from Sydney NEW ZEALAND WATERS Arrival off Manukau FISH FOR AUSTRALIA By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Jan. 16. A Sydney venture to catch fish off the New Zealand coast and offer it for sale on Australian markets came under the floodlight of publicity when a Sydney trawler unexpectedly put into Manukau Harbour yesterday afternoon to land a member of her crew, who was suffering from a septic hand. But for the need of landing the man it is considered likely that i the trawler would have completed her fishing and returned to Australia without putting in to any New Zealand port. The man, who ..as brought ashore for treatment at the hospital, was Walter John Carey, aged 50, of Auburn, Sydney, and the trawler which came all the way across the Tasman for fish is the Alfie Cam, a vessel of 282 tons, built in England in 1920. Mr. Carey had his right hand injured in the en-gine-room on Friday last and w’hen the wound became septic the master, Captain W. Reid, thought it advisable to put the man ashore for expert treatment. On admission to the hospital Mr. Carey underwent a minor operation and to-day his condition was satisfactory. The Alfie Cam arrived off the Manukau Heads shortly before 1 o’clock, but as the master was not acquainted with the conditions of the bar she did not cross inward, but remained cruising about outside. An hour later the motor vessel Hokianga, bound from Hokianga to Onehunga, arrived off the bar and was requested by the trawler to take Mr. Carey into port. As there is a regulation which forbids any person landing from an overseas vessel without permission, from the Health and Customs authorities, the master of the Hokianga did not comply with the request, but suggested that he should lead the trawler over the bar. This course was agreed to and the trawler anchored inside . the Manukau Heads. When the Hokianga arrived at the wharf at Onehunga she reported the matter, but in the; meantime the injured man had been taken off the trawler by a private launch, which had been attracted by the piping of the fishing vessel’s whistle. Excursionists on other launches which arrived at Onehunga before the boat with the injured man on board, were not allowed to land until it had been ascertained that no one from the trawler was among them. According to Mr. Carey the Alfie Cam, which .is owned by Cam and Sons, left Sydney ten days ago to try out a “new scheme for catching fish off the New .Zealand coast, for Australia. The crossing of the Tasman occupied five days and the fishing was commenced off Three Kings and Cape Maria Van Piemen. Rough weather hampered fishing operations at the start, but later the trawler worked south and excellent results were achieved. The trawler, he thought, would be leaving on her return trip to Sydney about Wednesday. WITHIN THE LAW , Regular Grounds Open VISITING TRAWLERS “I cannot recall any regulation which would debar an Australian trawler from operating in New Zealand waters,” said Mr. A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, in commenting last evening on the activity of the Sydney trawler Alfie Cam. Mr. Hefford added that in broad terms the New Zealand Government had authority within the three-mile limit. It seemed, however, that the legislation covering New Zealand fisheries would not prohibit a visiting trawler from 'working inside the three-mile limit where this privilege was also enjoyed by New Zealand vessels. The Australian trawler would certainly have to keep within the limits laid down for local trawlers, but the restriction would seem to end _ at that, Mr. Hefford said. •‘I consider our fishing grounds are rather better than those off the coast of Australia. I think the visit may have been influenced by rather glowing accounts of New Zealand’s fisheries which have ’ recently appeared in English journals. I have read these myself, and I suppose they would present a rather tempting picture to Australian enterprise.” Most countries regarded the threemile limit as covering territorial waters, but there was no- universal agreement, Mr. Hefford added. Russia had endeavoured to lay down a twelve-mile limit, and Norway had proposed ten miles. In England some time ago legislative authority had closed an area to English trawlers, and it had been found that the law did not cover foreign vessels operating within the three-mile limit. ‘‘lnternational law for water is full of loopholes,” Mr. Hefford continued. “We have an illustration in the whaling industry of the difficulties which arise in fisheries control. Until all nations can agree it is difficult to do much.