THE FISH SUPPLY

Evening Star, Issue 16197, 19 August 1916, Page 9

THE FISH SUPPLY

AUCKLAND'S EXPERIMENT.

,' A DECIDED SUCCESS.

[Special to the 'Stak.'] AUCKLAND, August 19. The Auckland City Council's fish supply Scheme has been a big success so far. It has brought down prices and resulted in a plentiful supply of fish, which, is always fresh. Prior to the council's proposal fish here was scarce and dear. The council leased a site and started to erect a small building. Pish immediately became cheaper and private enterprise started trawling. The council raised a loan and bought a trawler. By this time four or %e private trawlers were at work. Pish is now sold wholesale at the city market at an average price of lid per lb. Some sales have been below Id. The supply is always abundant. The municipal trawler averaged 20 tons a week at the start, and is no* bringing in from 20 to 30 tons every week, and private trawlers are doing even more. Before the city proposal was mooted there was nothing like that quantity available in a month. The cheapening of fish and a plentiful supply have created a big demand. The present market is only a temporary building, but the demands of" the rapidly-growing business necessitated continuous extension.

The market is a temporary measure until the council have found out what is actually ravjfiired before putting up a substantial building, for which loan money is available. Tile council pay rent for the market site to the Harbor Board, the same rent as is charged for adjoining lots. The council opened a retail shop in Queen street, and pay £lO per week rent. The shop is a very fine one, with the latest conveniences. It ie scrupulously clean, and there is always an excellent display of fish in the windowc. From present indications the council will probably be obliged to open retail branches in other parts of the city.

The statement that fish is as dear now as before the council's experiment is ridiculous. The council do not make any other claim than that their--action has brought down prices to the uroper level. The market was equipped with a smoke-house and small freezing chamber, sufficient for requirements, freezing accommodation being provided by the Auokland Farmers' Freezing Company for any excess supply. .Briefly put, the position is that, prior to the council's proposal, fish was a luxury. Schnapper was practically the only variety on the market, with occasionally a few founders. Line fishermen were continually complaining that the business was in the hands of one merchant, and that the returns did not pay them. To-day fish is a common article of food, within the reach of all, and the supply is always plentiful, and the fish iB landed straight from the trawler to the market to retail, and is not stored in the freezer and doled out as required. The retail prices in the city shop to-day are: —Schnapper, 6d to Is each; johnny dory, 4d to 6d each; mullet, 9d; tarakihi, 9d; crayfish, 6d up to 2s 6d for very large ones; garfish or piper, 6d a dozen; smoked schnapper, 6d to Is for big fish.