WHITEBAIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 66, 15 September 1943, Page 6

WHITEBAIT

3'--A :LB-.WHOLESALE

For the first time since the season began, whitebait are today down to 3s a Ib, which is regarded as cheap when compared with the 12s a 1b demanded for early supplies.

Whitebait are now coming to Wellington from all the rivers in New Zealand, according to Mr. L. Nimmo, of Messrs. Townsend and Paul, who said today that the drop to 3s a lb in the markets this morning would bring this commodity within reach of many people and provide a change from the exceedingly high-priced fish now being sold in the retail shops.

"It looks like a boom season in whitebait for the South. Island," he said. "Supplies are now arriving by the ton." Recent whitebait prices had been 6s and 8s a lb. Fish prices generally were still very high, he added, and supplies were exceedingly scarce, due to a bad season, military activity on the coast, and the fact that the Italian fishermen were still restricted to daytime operations. Retail whitebait prices in the city today were 2s for the f-pint carton, 3s for the intermediate, and 4s for the f pint. A pint weighs 20oz. Recent prices for these cartons were 2s 6d, 3s 6d, and 5s respectively.