PRICE OF FISH

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 8

PRICE OF FISH

TO THE EDITOS. Sir ) _ji’ro n i time to time several of us have written to yon on the above subject, and asking why "if. is that people have to pay “ luxury ” prices for what should be supplied to the public at the lowest possible price. The following information, supplied (o me from a direct and reliable source, will help to let a little light in on this subject. The same as in so many other things nowadays, there is a monopoly or “ring” in the fish trade in Dunedin, to such an extent that for the purpose nf keeping fish dear, fishermen are not permitted "to send more than three dozen groper and five cases of red cod to the market on any one day. If they send more, the “ring” returns same to Port Chalmers (o bo “dumped” by the fishermen. hat is worse is that the above quantities are not for each man on a boat, hut for each boat, so that a boat carrying, say, three fishermm is put on the same level as a small “line” boat, with only one fisherman aboard. I have been informed, further, that the secretary of the so-called Fishermen’s Society Assists in so regulating the market. I hope others will bring more light to bear on this subject, as something requires to be done to enable workers and their families to enjoy cheaper fish,—l am, etc., C. S. Thomson'. Apia! 20. [On making inquiries from a reliable quarter, it was learned that the statement made by the correspondent rc-eard-ing the limit of fish per boat is ccrrect, but that this had been brought id out by the fishermen Our informant staled emphatically that there was no such thing as a fish monopoly or “ ring ” in Dunedin. There are two auctioneers, who sell the fish by auction every morning, and the fish are knocked down to the highest bidder. In that case he failed to see where the monopoly came in. In connection with the question of cheap fish, it was stated that the steam trawlers had not been paying their way lately ; in fact, it was touch and go as to whether the boats would be laid up or not. From the point of view of the owners, it was now coating more to produce the fish than the steam trawlers were getting for tljo'in. The public was, therefore, getting cheap fish. Thera were times when the fishermen sent up larger quantities of red cod and ling than the shore staff could handle, but the surplus was not dumped. In all cases where extra supplies could not bo handled they were sent along to the orphanages and other institutions. Such surplus supplies were known as “rough fish,” but were quite suitable for consumption. Even at the present time if each boat sent its limit to town the demand would not absorb it at any price.— Ed. E.S.]