FISHERY RETURNS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1931, Page 3

FISHERY RETURNS

NEW SCHEME WANTED. According to the annual report -.on. the Dominion’s fisheries, compiled by the chief inspector, Mr A. E. Hefford, the total value of the produce of the Dominion’s fisheries for the year, amounted to just under £500,000. The total amount of wet fish landed in the Dominion is shown to be 367,647 cwt, valued at £449,440. Shellfish add another £38,603 to this total, which is further augmented by £B9Ol from whaling operations in New Zealand coastal waters. “Unfortunately, we are still without the means' of obtaining fishery statistics in a systematic and comprehensive manner, and it is ,to be observed that the returns which reach this ofiice vary considerably in their approximation to accuracy,” remarks Mr Hefford in his report. By issuing log-books to individual skippers and by obtaining records from fishing vessel owners or fish depots and markets endeavours have been made to supplement and to check the information derived from the annual returns of local inspectors. The facts provided by such data afford the only material evidence upon fishery conditions which he can acquire, and those records have already proved to be extremely useful to us in considering various fishery problems. For this reason a great deal of time and attention, which could ill be spared from other duties, Jias been devoted to tabulating and summarising material of this nature. Being heterogeneous, it is difficult to digest into departmental records. For the same reason, and Jscajise it is special and more or less it is not su^bl e for nublWion. <We can only make the best'use of opportunities for obtaining it, though o spared with system-atically-collected statistics it is li catching rain water m buckets instead pf using .a properly engineered water SU “The information required can only be .obtained by the total abolition of our existing plan of coUecting annual returns, and replacing it with a method .of collecting more frequent and more detailed statistics. This will call for more work on the part of our “presentotlves at the ports whose, present exiguous pay should be increased. It will also proyidework for an extra statistical clerk at headquarters. In a year when rejtrenchment and economy are neces sary, I should not this development but for the fact that it has already been too long delayed, and that the work is .such that being deferred! its frui£s are lost for .eyer. | “Possibly the conditions in New Zealand, with its varied methods of landing and distributing fish and its scattered sources of supply, are some-, what difficult to square with a uni-, form-system of fishery returns. In’ some places the best source of information would be the buyer wjip purchases the fish when first landed. I was at first inclined ,to .advocate this method of obtaining data, which is the systepi used .in -California; but on further consideration it would appear .most satisfactory/ to require .supple returns of the kinds, .quafir tities, and value of .the fish landed, and the method of fishing, from each .licensed fishing vessel owner (or skipper) and .to collect such returns monthly. There will be .difficulties to overcome .before the scheme pap work smoothly and efficiently. The principal .condition for success is an .attitude of mutual .helpfulness between those working in the industry and those working for the administration. Generally speaking, I believe this attitude ; e;xlsts, although usually the occasions for .intercourse between fishermen and fishery inspectors are limited io those .connected with the .enforcement of regulations. The scheme for .the collection of statistics would facilitate and increase opportunities for intercourse .between fishermen and officials to the benefit of the industry and the Department.

VALUE OF STATISTICS. “The interest and value of statistical records of fishery production is not, however, confined to the administrative point .of view, which is concerned mainly with measures for conservation. It has a very real value for those interested in industrial development. Very few people will, be inclined to invest capital in a. concern unless they are provided with data which give them information as to its .probable productivity. Mining operations are organised on the basis >of surveys and assays; agricultural xinderta, kings with careful regard ta the yield per acre. .. But who knows anything about the yield per unit area f of the fishing grounds of New Zealand? Accounts and pictures of occasional big catches tickle the idle fancy of the newspaper reader, but the person who is interested in a business sense demands averages. The fluctuations in a fishery are the most intriguing and embarrassing .of all the difficult problems associated with the industry, and their significance can only be appreciated as elucidated by statistical treatment.

“I, may conclude by referring to actual cases showing how has been foiled and impeded by the; lack of statistical information. The) question of establishing a fish reduction plant for the purpose of making fish-meal and oil from offal at certain port is raised. What capital will be required? It depends on the size of the plant, and this depends upopj the quantity and the frequency of thei landings of fish. Not having the; necessary statistical data for reference, the question is left in the air,, and the enterprise thwarted. The same difficulty is encountered in discussing projects for the better preservation of fish. The question of improved system of transport similarly turns upon consideration of quantities to be handled. Without the fundamental data no organised scheme is possible, and the trader struggles along on the narrow and out-of-date lines of individualistic industry. “Whether one accepts the view that our fisheries are capable of considerably increased exploitation or—which, I fear, is much nearer the truth—that ’ their potentialities are comparatively! limited, and permanent damage by de-i pletion a possibility against which all’ precautions should be taken, the importance of a statistical study of con-j ditions must in either case be recog-1 nised.”