BIGGER CATCHES OF WHITEBAIT MADE IN GREY DISTRICT

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 October 1948, Page 4

BIGGER CATCHES OF WHITEBAIT MADE IN GREY DISTRICT

An improvement in sea and river conditions in the Grey-Hokitika areas yesterday led to the biggest whitebait catches of the season being made in district streams. Good hauls were made by fishermen from the Grey river, two men netting 40 pints from a rock near the wharf. Catches of several pints at a time were obtained during yesterday’s “runs,” which were intermittent though prolific. '

Prices remained up to recent levels, most whitebait selling at the riverside at 5s a pint and at retail shops at 4s 6d a lb. Some sales were made by irregular fishermen at lower prices.

Little Exported

Though some good catches were made yesterday, the total “haul” was apparently only sufficient to meet the local demand, and only about one cwt. was railed overland from the Hokitika and Greymouth ■ districts last night, the main consignment being two tins from Kumara, a similar amount from Hokitika and Taramakau and some small packages from Greymouth. In the hope of a further improvement today, numerous fishermen took up stations on the banks of the Grey river, and at 10 o’clock this morning, there were at least 100 nets in operation. The rocks on the Greymouth side of the river and the halftide wall on the opposite bank were favourite stands and there was little room between fishermen. Places on. the Blaketown breakwater, underneath the wharf and on the island above the Cobden bridge were also well patronised.

Setback to Haast Project

The advent of the whitebait season has given a check to the progress of work on the Haast Pass road, where one-fifth of the total labour force employed on the project has left io become members of the large group of seasonal workers engaged in whitebaiting in South Westland. Accordingly the impetus given the work on the Haast Pass scheme as a result of the recent South Island agitation, has been lost. About 30 mon had been employed on the road, the resident engineer, Ministry of Works, Mr A. B. Bremner, reported this morning, and at the latest advice six had left to take up whitebaiting. The work had suffered a delay in consequence. but it was hoped to build up the staff strength after the end of the whitebait season. So far the amount of whitebait caught in South Westland has been insufficient to give seasonal workers an adequate return, and only comparatively meagre consignments have been made by rail through Greymouth.