CRAYFISH FARMING

Evening Star, Issue 23355, 26 August 1939, Page 11

CRAYFISH FARMING

SUGGESTION FOR NEW INDUSTRY Discussing crayfish, a man who has been in touch with the business made an interesting suggestion to a ‘ Star ’ reporter. “ Why could crayfish not be farmed?” he enquired. “They are gregarious by habit, do not object to confinement, are easily and cheaply fed, and rapidly multiply.” Any small sheltered bay with a rocky bottom and clOse to transportation would be a good situation, and such a farm would soon be self supporting, as well as providing a suitable base for other marine researches. Mussels are farmed in California and other places, and in Brittany there are large sea-snail, or periwinkle farms. For crayfish a more constant food supply could be assured than for mussels or periwinkles, and probably waste from the fish shops could be used in this way.

This man was not of the opinion, however, that any useful purpose was served by other regulations brought in with the idea of conservation. He pointed out that the great majority of crayfish grounds were fur out at sea and inaccessible to the fisherman using the ordinary methods. From these grounds the inshore grounds were quickly rehabilitated, because the crayfish have enormous powers of reproduction.

“ Perhaps the marine hatchery at Portpbello could_ do something with the idea,J he said. In any case, it is a suggestion worth noting if the overseas markets for this fish improve. Weather would no longer affect the supply if it were farmed and not fished.