EELS RESEARCH

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1928, Page 1

EELS RESEARCH

DANISH EXPEDITION TO N.Z

WATERS.

WELLINGTON, July 12.

New Zealand will be visited towards the end of the year by the Danish State scientific ship Dana, in the course of a cruise of the Pacific, with a view to increasing the world’s knowledge of oceanography and marine organisms and fishes. The expedition will be in charge of Professor John Schmidt director of the Carlssterg Laboratory at Copenhagen, and will be equipped as fully as any ever undertaken.

While Professor Schmidt is interested in every form of research to be covered by the erluise, he is particularly enthusiastic in regard to discoveries that should prove the distribution and spawning grounds of eels. Eels are considered a prime delicacy in, Denmark, where the local supply is inadequate to supply the public -demand, and it is natural.that this source of food, so neglected in New Zealand, should engross the attention of Danish State Research; but Professor Schemidt adds,.to the value of this work to his country an enthusiasm for this particular subject which has already resulted .in discoveries most important to marine students. Everywhere lie is recognised as the world’s authority on the subject of the migrations and distribution of eels, and he has been carrying on correspondence with the New Zealand Marine Department for q considerable period re, garding the distribution of, the two species of eels known in New Zealand,

The party expects to. arrive from Fiji .or, Tonga ahout_ November,.,left y ;

ing again for New Caledonia or .Sydr ney. \> ellington will definitely he a port of eallj though Auckland may he first touched at. It is hoped that something more definite will he ascertained of the spawning grounds of the swordfish. There are? indications that the. swordfish caught in the Bay of Islands have only recently spawned, and that their spawning grounds are therefore not far away. Though the Danish State visit is purely scientific, in view of the demand there and elsewhere for eels, as food, it may lead; to some systematic form of eel fishery for the first time in New Zealand!"' •e***- v