CRAYFISHING INDUSTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 8

CRAYFISHING INDUSTRY.

At a meeting at Karitano on Saturday the fishermen there discussed certain aspects of the crayfishing industry. They complained about the restrictions that had been placed by the Government on the size of crayfish that might be taken. Everyone will have sympathy with the fishermen, who are engaged in a laborious business in which they meet with many handicaps from adverse weather, poor catches at times, and other hindering factors. Returns from crayfishing have helped them considerably in the past to offset these diaadvantaiges. Now the Government has decreed that the minimum size of these fish that may be taken is ’ nine inches. The Karitano men say that this regulation is too drastic, and that they will be affected unduly from the fact that on their grounds the fish are smaller in size than in other localities in the Dominion. It seems reasonable to suppose, however, that at Karitane, where fishing has been conducted by means of pots for sixty years without a break, there must be some diminution of the supplies. One of the speakers at Saturday’s meeting admitted that the Government was looking to the future in the matter of supplies. His contention was that the regulation was more severe than was necessary. In the report of the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee, laid on the table in the House of Representatives, the position of the crayfishing industry is lengthily discussed. In Otago and Canterbury the main crayfishing centres are Karitane, Moeraki, and Taieri Mouth. It is stated that before the export market collapsed owing to the application of a quota in France, arrangements had been made for the purchase of large supplies from these districts by the various firms engaged in the industry. After one year of intensive fishing, to supply the heavy demand, the grounds showed marked signs of depletion, not in quantities so much as in the alarming decrease in size. The Moeraki grounds suffered most, and have not recovered. Taieri mouth was affected least, and these grounds are now coming back to normal. In discussing the state of the Karitane grounds, the report said the position was rather doubtful, as, although it was noticed that when the conservation was being discussed the fishermen would agree to the prohibition of the taking of “ berried ” (containing ova) females, they would not agree to even a mild restriction of the size. From this it was deduced that there was still a large proportion of small fish in the landings. The conditions in the other ci ayfishing grounds of the Dominion are discussed in the report. Among the unfavourable factors discovered was the fact that in some cases the size of the catches was declining; in others that “ berried ” females and unde.raized fish were being taken, and that there was much wastage, in one case in the north at least, because of the fishing methods employed. The committee made various recommendations as the result of its investigations, the aim being to preserve the crayfishing grounds from undue depletion. One result was the fixing of the legal size of crayfish that may be taken at nine inches in length, and a provision that it be made illegal to take or sell female crayfish carrying

external ova. As an outcome of the Karitane meeting the good offices of the member for the district (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) have been sought, and he has promised to act as a go-between in the matter, and discuss ways for helping the fishermen in their difficulties, one solution suggested being tho institution of a guaranteed price. There is no doubt that the Government is right in its solicitude to preserve an important industry. The question is whether the precautions it is taking are excessive.

A man was recently arrested in Wellington on a charge of converting a motor car. was locked up for the night in the police station, and then it was discovered that he was not the right person, nor was he in any way involved in the offence. These facts, tho ‘ Domillion * records, were mentioned in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday, when Sub-inspector D. J. O’Neill asked permission to withdraw the charge against John William Leslie, bushman, aged 27 This was granted by Mr A. M; Goulding, S.M. Counsel, Mr Evan Parry, said that in this case Leslie, a young man against whom nothing at all was known and who had an unblemished reputation was arrested in connection with an offence of which he was not guilty or connected in any way at all directly or indirectly. Counsel said ho was not making a complaint at the present stage, hut he understood application for redress would bo made to the proper quarter. Ho would like to point out. however, that when Sub-inspector O’Neill became aware of the position he did all he could to recompense Leslie. The sub-inspector informed the court that someone else had since been convicted on the particular charge. Two persons have claimed the first prize of £2,000 in. the -last art union drawn—the Golden Dawn—and it will bo some days before an official announcement is made as to which claimant is to get it (says the ‘ Dominion ’). The winning ticket was No. 190,639, the butt bearing the nom de plume “ Just a Fool.” Mr J. R. Mildenhall, a mechanic, claimed the prize, but later Mr T. E. Astwood, a retired farmer of Okau, was announced as winner. Mr Mildenhall changed his lodgings just before the drawing, and, it is understood, he believes he lost his ticket then. Solicitors representing both claimants have been in touch with the art union organisation officials, and a decision is expected early.

One of the roads which suffered the greatest damage during the recent snow storms was that between Outram and Middlemarch. The secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago) advised this morning that the road is now open for essential traffic, but that a permit to use the route must first be obtained from the office of the Taieri County Council at Mosgiel. Chains are still necessary for motor cars, as the surface is cut up badly, and trouble is almost certain to be experienced by those attempting the road without them.

“ Although at times the Press sees fit to criticise us, we nevertheless owe it a great deal,” said Mr' B. S. Irwin, president of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, at the annual meeting last night. Not only for the advertisement racing writers gave the club’s meetings, but also for the helpful hints given in its columns, the Press appreciably aided the sport. “ Criticism is always welcomed by the committee and members of the club, as it does a lot of good.” Registrations for the National Military Reserye in the Area 11 (Dunedin and Oaimru) have now reached the total of 1,224. In class 1 there are 165 registrations; class 2, 397; and class 3, 469; while 203 are not eligible. The total for the Dunedin district stands at 1,003 (Otago excepting North Otago and the Lake, Tuapeka, Bruce, and Clutha counties). Registrations in the North Otago area go to Oamaru and in the above counties to Southland district.

The failure of the City Council to sweep up the grit spread on the roads in frosty weather was criticised this morning by the proprietor. of a Dunedin service station. He said that when dry the grit was a danger to cyclists and motorists, as the individual grains were round and rolled when the brakes were applied, giving the vehicle no hold at all. It was suggested that fine screenings would provide a better surface. During last winter, there were eight spills at one corner, while within the last two or three years two hoy cyclists had been removed to the Hospital for treatment after their machines had skidded in the gravel. It was pointed out that the roads were frosty for about two or three hours of tlie busier part of the morning, and during the remainder of the day the grit lay on the roadside and dried, to form a trap for the ranwary.

The Waitaki left Melbourne for Bluff on Saturday with 17 bags of Australian and Empire mails for Dunedin, and the Komata followed on Monday for Tiniaru with three bags of Australian mails for Dunedin. Both mails should reach the local office on Thursday. The Empire mails despatched from Dunedin on August 2 reached London last Thursday. Owing to further slips on the main trunk line no Auckland or overseas mails will reach Dunedin on Wednesday evening. The steamer Clansman, which was beached on Thursday near Coromandel and refloated yesterday, arrived at Auckland this morning under her own power and went on the slip for repairs to various parts of the hull. Temporary repairs had been carried out with tin sheeting before her return to Auckland. —Press Association.