SALMON FISHERIES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1927, Page 6

SALMON FISHERIES

It is anticipated that the ruu of quiunat salmon in the Southern rivers will this year prove a record. This anticipation may bo expected to attract considerablo numbers of anglers and netfishermen to the rivers; and it would be as well for the Marine Department to announce its policy before the rush sets in. Two North American experts last year strongly advised that the .fish should be left undisturbed for a further period so they might multiply ■ and thus provide salmon fisheries upon a commercial scale. As fishing has been allowed to begin it is, perhaps, too much to/expect that it should be stopped completely, but the Government should certainly consider the limitation of operations. Line fishermen may be allowed to have their sport with reasonable restrictions upon the catches; but the wjsdom of permitting netting appears mu9J| open, to .argument. As yet. there does not appear to be, seoro for commercial fisheries. Certainly an industry of wide public benefit cannot be built up- on.vthe price :15asis: < ofi 2s or. 2s 6d-a pound.' Would it not be better for the public and for the future of commercial salmon fisheries, therefore, that netting and marketing should be deferred till the runs are-such-as to warrant the establishment of the enterprise on a bigger scale?