N.Z. FISHERIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 119, 21 May 1914, Page 4

N.Z. FISHERIES

PROFESSOR PRINCE'S REPORT "BEST FOOD FISH IN ANY COUNTRY " OYSTER-BEDS AND CRAYFISH. Professor E. E. Prince, of Canada, who is engaged in investigating, on behalf of the Government, the fishing grounds of New Zealand, arrived from the North on Tuesday and left for the South last evening. Having conducted extensive trawling operations around the coasts of both islands, Professor Prince now intends to make ah inspection of the fishing ports of the South Island, and will meet delegates of southern fishermen. On completing that work ho will visit the rivers and lakes, moving northward from the Bluff back k> Wellington. " On my arrival in New Zealand early in April, remarked Professor Prince to a Post repoiter yesterday, "I decided that the work of surveying the fisheries of the Dominion and reporting on them would divide itself into three parts, j namely : (1) The investigation of the, sea fishing areas ; (2) tour over the lakes and rivers to stirfly the fresh water fisheries} and (3jT conferences with the fishermen and fish merchants and sportsmen who are interested in the development of the fishery resources of this country generally. The first part of the programme has been accomplished, and a pretty complete survey has been made of i the inshore waters and some of the deep-sea grounds around the North and South Islands, including Stewart Island. Experimental tests with the otter trawl and with the dredge, and a limited amount of line-fishing have been com- j pleted, and some interesting results from j the fishery expert's point of view have been obtained. This work has been done on the Government steamer Hinemoa, and Mr. Aypon, the Chief Inspector of \ Fisheries, has planned and superintended the operations, while Captain Bollons, in command of the Hinemoa, lias rendered considerable aid, and Captain Nielsen has actpd as trawling master jvery effectively. During part of the trip Mr. T. Anderton, of the Portobello Fish Hatchery, has rendered assistance, and j\lr. C 4. M. Thomson, M.P., was also on board for some days. Piofossor Kirk, of Wellington, carried on some biological studies dining part of the trip, but It was found impossible, owing to the large area of ground to be covered and the- limited time, to arrange foi elaborate .scientific research. FISHING GROUNDS. "While t,he catches jnade on the various fishing grounds cannot be regarded from « commsreial standpoint, but 'rather as expert te&te of the nature and productiveness of the different, afeae, the wholo cruis-e has been a to markably successful one. Good weather teemed to accompany the paity all round the East and West Coasts^ with the exception of two. or three 'dayc' heavy _ weather at the Eais-t (Jap' 4, AvlnrU was practically thft oilly delay in tho whole trip. < > ■ < "My g-eneral conclusion is- that 'practically ovory part of tiie coast which 1 liave investigated is productive- of 'fish which would find a ready market in most countries. Some fish, such' as the bluo cod, snapper, hapuku, southern kingfi6h, and teraiuhi, rank with % the best food fish in any country, while the flat fishes, such as the brill and the various soles, are of a very gopd quality. With such prolific waters, the people of Zealand should never . lack ample 6uppht>s of fish food. But 1 am given to understand that there is often extreme difficulty in obtaining adequate .quantities of fis/h. The public generally complain that they cannot rely upon the supplies necessary in the various ceJiireu of population. TBANSPORT. "I am of opinion that any difficulties which exist can be removed, and the prosperity of all concerned considerably enhanced by modern methods of handling and transporting . fish. As a batter of fact, the present method of getting fish into the markets from the fishing grounds is somewhat behind the times. As compared with the mode •of transporting fish into the great centres of population in Britain or in Canada and the United States, the New Zealand methods call for considerable improvement, and In my report I shall deal very fully with those aspects of tho fishery question. SUGGESTIONS. "In some areas I have foiYad in respect to valuable species, such as the blue cod, considerable fluctuations. The general opinion is that there has been over-fishing, and the supply has declined. I do not regaid this as a wellfounded opinion. It is well known to fisheiy authoiities that some species, f or various piofound reasons, fluctuate, and are plentiful or scarce at, different periods. The best method of overcoming such fluctuations is by artificial fish culture. The fact that the salmon rivers in North America have been abundantly btocked and the supplies of fish made more regular, while on the Pacific Coast there is a superabundance of shad and striped bass — both of them most excellent food fish — has proved that fish hatching is one of the must effective ways of increasing the regular supplies of fish. Both the Ameiican fisli mentioned aro not native Lo tha Pacific Coast, but wore introduced there by the usual methods of fibh culture, and have become so abtindaht as to be at times almost a drug on the market, dn other words, the price of these fish has been reduced to a very low sum. . THE OYSTER BEDS. "I have paid paiticular attention to the oyster beds, and again I have been struck with the wealth available in New Zealand centered in the oyster areas. I do not think that the people of the DoI minion generally realise what an extra j ordinarily valuable asset they have in the splendid oyster-beds — both the rock oyster-beds and the deep water beds. There is no doubt that the method adopted by the Government, at the suggestion of Chief Inspector Ayson, has not only saved tho lock-oyster supply from destruction, but has vastly increased it; and I think that the system adopted is "capable of further development on various lines. The oysters in Foveaux Strait are also capable of being conserved and vastly increased. So that New Zealand should be able not only to supply her own needs, but have oysters available for some of the great markets abroad. I am of opinion that no time should be lost in effectively handling the oyster question in New Zealand. FRESH-WATER FISH. " Not having inspected the fresh-water fishories, J am nob able at this stage to express iiijv_ views .which would be of

interest, though fishery experts in every part df the world recognise that New Zealand ha* done wonders in the acclimatisation of valuable species of salmon, trout, etc. No fishery expert needs to be informed as to the wonderful success (if the efforts made by the fishery officials in New Zealand 'in this direction. Other countries have found that the encouragement of touri.st spoilsmen has been of great importance. Canada every year welcomes thousands of the linest anglers from Europe and the United States, and our well-stocked salmon livers afford them ample reward. " Now Zealand has been acquiring a reputation as a great game-fish country ; and I have no doubt that the lakes and rivers of this country will yet attain to the highest rank in the annals of sport. It is not a question, however, of simply stocking waters , but all the conditions have to be studied. The dangers of over-stocking or- of introducing undesira,ble fish have to be carefully considered from a technical standpoint Even m Canada, where, without exaggeration, it may be stated that some of the finest salmon rivers in the world -occur, mistakes have been made. Some years ago the Dolly Varden trout (Salvilinus malma) was introduced into Nova Scotia waters, and proved not only a most predacious enemy to better fish, but altogether lacking in game qualities. Anglers pronounced it to be a lazy and voracious species. The United States authorities introduced many years ago the German carp, and found that it was most injurious to such fine fish as the black bass of the Great Lakes, and it has proved in various ways to be a most undesirable fish. Indeed, methods have been adopted in some States for cleaning out the German carp ; and it is sent in quantities to such markets as Detroit, Buffalo, and" New York, to meet the demands of the poorest class of fish buyers. SEA CEAYPISH. "Amongst- other most interesting fea tures which ha.ye <'oin*> to my notice has been the great abundance of the soa crayfish, often called the spiney lobster. In South Africa quite a considerable canning industry has grown up in recent years in the utilisation of a similar species, and there should be a' great future for a lobster canning industry in this country, though it cannot, in my opinion, compete with the tnle lobster of Europe and North America. Canada has tho greatest lobster supply in the world, and every season over 800 canneries are busy at work packing this valuable crustacean, which has increased recently in market price, co that the public' have Lc- pay three or four timos the rales paid ten or twelve yearn ago. There is also a large live, lobster trade, especially with the interior of Canada and the United States, largo live lobsters bringing from 26 to -is oach. In Franco and in England there is a very extraordinary demand for lobsters for the [impose of making salads, . and 1 cannot imagine a. more excellent article than the Now Zealand crayfish for that purpose The absence of large claw&, which are characteristic of tho true lobster, is «i defect, as the large claw meat is most esteemed by epicures, and is. onfe of\the main . roasons for tho high price and great demand. FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. " If my time allowed, I should like to meet all the representative fishermen, fish dealers, and anglers and sportsmen generally, and discuss with them the various aspects of both the commercial and sporting fish questions. I hope, however, to arrange for some conferences which will be of advantage both to the Government and to all the parties iiituu'&tod. "i have conducted similar • fishery surveys in various countries— in Eng-' land, Scotland, Ireland t and in Canada, and I have alao made considerable touts in the United States, with my colleague, Dr. Starr Jordan, on the Inter; national Fisheries Commission, but t have nowhere found more widespread or intelligent interest in fishery questions, and certainly' I have nowhere received more kindness and more assistance from all parties, both official and unofficial, in the course of my work, than has been tho case here. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. "New Zealand has a high reputation for its wonderful scenery, and in the course of my trip, while I have not been seeking scenery regions, I have not shut my eyes to the beauties which occurred on every hand during my cruise around the sea coasts. ■ And while, as a Canadian, I consider tho mountains and lakes and rivers of Canada are ampngst the fluent in the world, I am free to admit , that there are beauty spots in New Zealand j which exceed anything to be found in any other country. Not even Norway, I think, can equal the magnificence of Milford Sound in its impressive and stupendous features."

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