FISH TRANSPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22622, 27 April 1948, Page 5

FISH TRANSPORT

GISBORNE-WELLINGTON NAPIER FIRM’S REQUEST (S.R.) NAPIER. April 26. The need of speedy transport for the conveyance of fish from Gisborne to the Wellington market when the Napier ocean-going fishing craft put in at the East Coast port was stressed by an applicant for a new license who appeared before Mr. P. J. Skoglund, No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority, in Napier. Mr. T. H. R. Gifford, who appeared for the applicant, the Hawke’s Bay Trawling Co. Ltd., said that there was no cool storage available at Gisborne. He pointed out that the craft worked as far north as Tolaga Bay, and frequently they had to put in to Gisborne when bad weather was encountered. Out For Four Days “It is the big launches ihat are the trouble,” said Mr. Gifford. “Often they stay out for four days. They don’t return till they have a load. Mr. Gifford pointed out that the firm used the railways as a practice, but in the event of one of the big boats coming in on a Sunday, for example, there was a grave prospect of the catch deteriorating and becoming a loss. There was a great need for the fish to be rushed to the Wellington market while in fresh condition. Earl Thomas Boyd, the applicant’s foreman, pointed out in evidence that the fish could not be landed for sale at Gisborne as this would be a breach of the firm’s fishing license. Large Catches Taken

Witness said that the deep-sea launches caught as much as 18,0001 b. of fish at a time. Dealing with the position at Napier, witness said the firm’s cool store could handle only 15,0001 b. Witness agreed with Mr. Gifford that speedy transport was needed in times of emergency to convey the fish to the Wellington market. Mr. Skoglund reserved his decision, but indicated that he did not expect there would be any objection from the Railways Department.