THE FISH SUPPLY.

Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 9

THE FISH SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —An interview with represantatives of the fishing industry (wholesalers and retailers), who affected to voice the views of men in the trade, in Saturday's 'Star,' merits a reply. They make a few startling statements, but they certainly qualify them with the word " exceptional." The prices quoted are exceptional—kingfish 9d to le, groper Is to Is 6d (which means about Id per lb), and soles Is to 2s per dozen, retail pricss. I have never seen these prices, nor has anyone else. What has happened is this: At the boats in Port Chalmers, when there has been a good catch, some of those prices exist, or some stalo fish might have been offered as a clearing lino late on a Saturday night. Tho next, statement is more astounding: " It is quite common for two men in a boat to get £IOO per month and £25 to £3O per week." These statements may be correct, but do not tell you what kind of boats they are. I will deal with these boats and their returns on a later date, showing how misleading their etatements are. They say the men who supply the market are satisfied. How is it that privately-owned boats will tend fish anywhere rather than to the market? _ Why did fishermen limit tho supply to this market? Simply because they reckoned they were being exploited; and, further, they now employ a man to watch their interests. Now, the last wail is significant of their environment. They have <=een a tin of fish oonsigned to the Hospital, which did not come from their market. What sleepless nights this has caused them. It is not condemnation but illumination that they want.

If I am not .trespassing on your space, I would like to show tho primitive methods existing under present conditions. A boat leaves Port Chalmers at 6 in the morninoand is usually catching fish . from 5.30 on,' returning to Port about 4 p.m. The fish is then put in barrels or crates, and stands in a, van, which is very smelly, if the weather is warm About 8 next morning they are hauled on a siding, which is called our present market—a place that is quite inadequate. The crates are piled on top of each other, and here the fish is sold by auction and taken to different

Now, I should like to point out that tho men -in tho trade who conduct this primitive business are not responsible for Buch a deplorable condition of things. The . fish in many cases does not reach the consumer till 30 hour's after being caught. Now, under municipal government having full control of all fish sold in the pity, tho conditions would be: (1) The market would have- a railway siding of its own, and have cool storage and freezing chambers. Arrangements would be made for receiving fish from Port Chalmers, say, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the day it was caught. The! first delivery could be siippbed the same day tD thops within a radius of 25 to 50 miles. The second delivery would be brought up and put into cold storage for early morning supply; and all deliveries would be executed by "motors fitted up with trays. Under present conditions round fish are cleaned in the shops, causing no end of trouble in hot weather. With the market this would be abolished. All fish refuse would be a by-product, and could be used for manure. The market, by means of its cold storage, would regulate supply and demand, which, owing to weather conditions, are always uncertain. The consumer would have one profit to pay; the other expenses would be market charges. I predict that with fresh fish at a reasonable price three times as much would be sold to the public, and would give employment to hundreds.—l am, etc., Ciias. H. Hatwakd. August 15.