BLUFF OYSTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1938, Page 20

BLUFF OYSTERS

DEPLETION OF BEDS

POSITION is': SERIOUS

Statements made, in Invcrcargill rc.cently regarding the serious depletion of the -Bluff oyster beds are fully supported fiy Mr.' Jr. ■ -Thorn, M.P. for Thames and chairman-of the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee, which reported to the Government last week, states the "New Zealand Herald." In a letter, Mr. Thorn quotes from an article published on March 15 from the "Herald's" Invercargill correspondent, "and states that the^ views expressed are correct in every particular and wholly in accord with the evidence tendered to the committee during its sitting at Bluff. . \ One comment in particular from the article is mentioned by Mr. Thorn as follows; —''No Government yet' has put the oyster industry on a proper footing, and the sooner the present Government realises the gravity of the situation the better." "That the present Government has realised the gravity of the situation," writes Mr. Thorn, "is evident in its appointment, of the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee, and it can be depended upon to give the most serious consideration to what the committee his recommended. '. ..' "The depletion in the stocks of Bluff oysters has. occurred, principally in what is known as the east bed. This bed contains the best oysters, and, moreover, it is fished the most intensively because it is about: an hour's steam nearer Bluff than the west bed. In recent years, as the report of the committee shows, "the production from all the beds has increased■ enormously, so much so as to have caused the greatest apprehension among oyster merchants and ,the ;'men who .work the oyster dredgers as" to the future of this shell fish: - ;■■/>-■- ; '-■*';• ;-■■ COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS. "The committee had made the following recommendations to the Government:—That the east bed be closed for three years, and that no further licences to take oysters be issued until, a complete survey of the beds cah be made. It is; suggested'that ihis survey be commenced within 'the' next few months, and that the cost,be',borne equally between the Government and the oyster merchant firms, which are generally agreeable. . ' "Further recommendations are that the season be 'shortened by a fortnight ■• (in February during the hot weather); and that the legal size of the oyster be increased. . l ■,-' / "The committee"has also made recommendations governing 'the width of the dredges and the depth of the bit," Mr. Thorn continues. "It was further of opinion ,that some unification, of the sales organisation." is highly desirable, and that an improvement in transport should be ajme'd.at. , ,-, "The drift of the current in the Foveau'x Strait, 'being from west to east, there is strong ' ground for the committee's belief that the east bed is populated by spawn from the west bed which, incidentally, is from eight to ten fathoms deeper. As' a result there will be some need, to be, careful that abstractions from the west bed will not be in excess of what is required to maintain the stock. The'committee has expressed this view to the Government.

"I may say 'that the committee is highly gratified at the interest taken in itsrwork," Mr. Thorn- concludes, "and ft -the large .measure-of approval its Recommendations have received from ■i\ interests' in 'the industry."