THE FISHING INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 10, 11 July 1912, Page 8

THE FISHING INDUSTRY

ARE SUPPLIES TO BE CHEAPENED? " We have had some evidence as to the depletion of the New Zealand waters of fish by trawlers in the vicinity. of the large centres," said the chairman of the Cost of Living 1 Commission (Mr E. Tregear) to the' 6ecretary of the Marine Department (Mr George Allport) this morning. " The complaint was* made particularly in regard to the Hauraki gulf. Would a close season, be of any benefit?" Mr, Allport : " A close season for some kinds of fish has certainly been, advisable." This has been proved in the case of mullet in the norfh. Mullet was the only fish, so far, for which a closo season had been declared. " Do you think that system, if extended, would be of use?" . ■ Witness: "For some fish, . perhaps ; it would not be of use in the deep water species." One, of the most effective methods would be to stop the taking of small fish. There were regulations to »top the practice, k but it still was carried on. It was difficult to make a close 'season for any kind of fish. The Marine Department's experiments with trawling and the chartering: of ' good fishing grounds had already proved of groat value to trawlers. The Department was also encouraging municipalities' to establish fish markets, which would render the prices cheaper 1 to the people. Blue cod would not bocome cheaper while bo much of it was exported to Australia, whero the demand was very strrohg. la 1909, 12,083 cwt_ was sent across frozen ; in 1910, 8893 cwt. ; ' in 1911, 13,313 owt. This was mainly of blue cod. Our imports of dried and potted fish were also considerable. The Department, added witness, disallowed trawling in the northern portion of the Wellington harbour. This was supposed to be the breeding ground of flounders. Blue cod; there was reason to believe, were destroyed. in large numbers in Stewart Island owing- to small fish being taken in contravention of the law. A now regulation had been passed increasing the minimum eize of those allowed to be taken.