Whitebait Canning Industry Seeks American Markets

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1949, Page 3

Whitebait Canning Industry Seeks American Markets

Another West Coast industry, whose existence was seriously threatened by the removal of the exchange rate last year, is finding in the devaluation decision a chance of rehabilitating itself. This is the whiter bait canning industry, the rapid growth of which was checked by the virtual loss of the Australian market following the exchange cut, and, which is now seeking markets in the United States of America.

The price of tinned whitebait, which was bought freely in Australia during the war years, jumped to a level which made it an extreme luxury, after the exchange cut, and thus, the chief market for the West Coast whitebait canning industry, was lost overnight. Since that time, tffe industry has been in a delicate position, and stocks have been hard to quit, . the demand within New Zealand itself being practically negligible. A market was obtained in the West Indies, but transport difficulties posed a problem. With the devaluation of sterling, however, the. opportunity is being seized to establish an American market, and there is every reason to believe that much of this season’s West Coast whitebait catches may find its way to tables on the east coast of America. Different Prices While a 11b tin of whitebait costs about 6s in New Zealand, it would cost about 8s in Australia, but, under the new circumstances, less than 4s 6d in the United States, or about half the Australian price. With the loss of the Australian market last year, West Coast whitebait factories suffered a set-back, and though the season was poor, difficulty was found in selling all the output. This year, the industry, which had promised some years ago to expand vigorously, is playing a less prominent part. The management of at least one factory had decided to restrict production, irrespective of the quality of the season, and to can only in the flush of the year. No regular labour is being employed as in past years, the factories relying on assistance from the whitebaiters themselves. There are three whitebait factories on the West Coast, one at Okuru, another at Bruce Bay and a third at Hokitika. None, it is reported, has yet commenced canning on any large scale, if at all. Usually canning operations have started before the end of September, though most activity is in October. Some of the factories, it is reported, have been forwarding their catches to the Christchurch market for sale instead of canning it this season. Worst Season?

If the season is, as it appears likely to be, the worst since factories were established on the West Coast, it may hamper efforts to supply an American market. The decline in the industry’s production has been quite substantial, one factory last year putting out about 2,500 tins compared with ll,ooolbs the previous year.

The whitebait season has been extremely poor in the Grey district, and only for a short period earlier this month did it appear payable in South Westland. Then more than 3001 b a day was freighted up to Hokitika for railing to Christchurch, while about 15001 b was brought up by air. Omeach of two days some 7cwt of whitebait was consigned through the Hokitika railway station, which in a short period dealt with over one ton of the small fish.

Despite the cold weather at Westport on Wednesday there were some fair catches of whitebait from the Buller and Orowaiti rivers and 600 pounds were sent by the service plane to the Wellington market. There has been no large-scale run as . yet at Westport this season but supplies have been fairly consistent recently. The price per pint is 4s.