FISHING INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 7

FISHING INDUSTRY

EFFECT OF THE TIMES ALTERED METHODS The effect of the financial depression on the fishing industry in New Zealand is dealt with by the Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr A. K. Hefford), in his annual report presented to Parliament. “ A general review of the conditions reveals how the financial stringency of the times lias had its effect on the fishing methods employed,” he states. “ The personnel of the industry contains a large proportion of recruits who followed other occupations prior to the slump. There are for the most part dinghy or shore fishermen who fish very intermittently, and whose catches, being hawked locally, are not usually included in our returns. A diminution in the employment of fishing vessels of the highest class as regards capital value as well as fishing power and working expenses is shown in the further decrease in the operations of deep-sea trawlers, apparently brought about by the fall in prices. In 1927 sis steam trawlers of the North Sea type were in practically continuous commission. This year, though three vessels of this type were based on Auckland, it was only for a very short period that as many as two were in operation at the same time, and only ono steam trawler worked from Wellington. Other steamers engaged in trawling from such ports as Napier, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers are small converted vessels originally built for other work, and not to lie classed as deep-sea trawlers according to the standards of the Northern Hemisphere. Considering that the large trawlers kept several hands in employment and consumed coal produced by New Zealand labour, and, moreover, kept the markets supplied with fairly uniform amounts of mixed fish, it is a matter for regret that their activity has shown a decline. On the other fiand, their fishing power had certainly been such that with a limited area of ground available for exploitation there was some danger of depletion from over-fishing. Visits of both steam trawlers and Danish seiners to inshore grounds fished by local line fishermen have given rise to complaints and protests from ' various districts. Tho difficulty is that practically all the best fishing grounds are comparatively close to the land and must be exploited by the more intensive methods if supplies of fish to tho larger ports are to be maintained. There is, moreover, the additional problem of keeping a proper surveillance over “ prohibited ’’ areas for which our fisheries protection organisation is already inadequate, and indeed in most districts non-existent.

DANISH-SEINING INCREASED, “ While steam-trawling has declined, Danish-seining has increased and developed. In the early days small motor launches of about 35ft in length were generally employed for this fishing. In the last year or two several bigger and more' seaworthy vessels have been specially built, with a wider fied of operation and the ability to work in. weather which was formerly regarded as impossible. Moreover, the installation _of Diesel engines in place of the benzine or petrol consumers of a few years ago has effected marked economy in propulsion, and has also extended their range. Some trawling and line-fishing vessels have also added to their efficiency and economy by the same change. “ Generally speaking, the Dauishseiners are decidedly the most efficient and productive of all fishing vessels in the dominion. In the Auckland vicinity considerable .restrictions have been imposed on their operations by closing certain areas to this method of fishing, and there is at least ground for believing that it may be advisable to limit their operations in inshore waters off other parts of the open coast; Owing to the,limited market there has been a considerable amount of voluntary restriction of fishing intensity in the last two years.. At the same time, however, the low price of fish or increased scarcity has induced more of the most enterprising fishermen to take up this method of fishing. Unfortunately', a comprehensive appreciation of the situation has been prevented by the lack' of statistical information to which reference has already been made. Schnapper and flounder on the Auckland fishing grounds and flounders and other flat-fish on the Nelson and Canterbury fishing grounds arc the kinds most sought after and most affected by this method of fishing.”