PRICE OF FISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 52, 30 August 1939, Page 10

PRICE OF FISH

DISPARITY NOTED

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

Fisheries and the disparity between the price paid to fishermen and the retail price of fish came under discussion when the vote of £204,112 for the Marine Department was before the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Government, Oamaru) claimed that fishermen in his district were being subjected to hardship because of the regulation compelling them to throw back all crayfish under nine inches in length. The fishermen claimed that there was a distinct species of crayfish on that coast, he said. This species did not grow much beyond nine inches, and consequently they had to throw back a large part of their catches. If this continued, the fishermen would have to go out of business. He asked the Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser) to send an officer of the Marine Department to investigate the claims of the fishermen. Fishermen were paid 1 5-8 d a pound ! for crayfish, but the retail price was 8d a pound, said Mr. H. E. Combs (Government, Wellington Suburbs). In Wellington oysters were fifteen for a shilling, and fish, for which the ! fishermen received 2£d a pound, was sold at lOd. He suggested there should be an inquiry into the wide margin between the two prices. Mr. Fraser said that it was realised that there were small species of crayfish on some parts of the coast, and the Department proposed to • reduce the limit to eight inches to meet the position. PROTECTION OF TOHEROAS. •Toheroas on the Dargaville coast were rapidly becoming extinct, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (National Kaipara) said. He suggested greater protection. It had been * suggested that motor traffic on the beaches was responsible, but he thought the main trouble was the constant digging. The number of toheroas that could be taken by any one person was limited, but large parties went on the beaches and dug up hundreds, with the result that local residents had to travel for miles to get any. He suggested that some of the beaches should be closed for twelve months. Mr. Coates added that his remarks did not apply to those who had licences to take toheroas for commercial purposes, because they did their digging in a systematic manner. The trouble was with picnic parties that dug all the fish out of an area. The vote was approved |