PROBLEM OF EELS

Lake County Mail, Issue 19, 1 October 1947, Page 5

PROBLEM OF EELS

Vermin or Fish?

To the ardent trout-ftiigler the eel is 11 vermin' ” for extermination if possible. It is well known, of course, that cels not only prey on trout, but compete with trout for food. Mr I). F. Hobbs, senior fishery officer (fresh-water) of the Marine Department, in a paper on migratory cels at Lake Ellesmere, presented to the Science Congress, remarked that the normal size attained there by longfinned females before migration was at 13.21b, about three times the weight indicated by earlier published records. It is on record that the development of these fish beyond the length of about 30in was attained substantially on a diet of fish, in which in many waters trout figure prominently. Thus because of the much greater size now found to be attained on this diet, it seemed likely that the predations of those eels were more serious than was hitherto supposed. Further, it would appear probable that following effective clearance of eels * of large size from a water, a much larger period would elapse than was hitherto supposed before replacement was completed. - Commercial Exploitation At a recent meeting of the Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Council, Professor E. Percival (representing the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) asked for a definition of the council’s attitude towards the eel. Was it an exploitable fish or was it vermin? The question of the continuance of supply had been discussed with him by one of the canning firms, and it seemed to him a very urgent one. Mr K. R. Allen, senior research officer (fresh-water) of the Marine Department, said that the whole problem of the eel-trout relationship must not be regarded from a purely angling point of view. If at sonic future date there should be a request from those interested in eels for their protection, the council must be in possession of definite information regarding the influence of the cel on the trout if it was to weigh the conflicting interests properly. The research would have to start with a study of present conditions, so that an accurate evaluation of the effects of removing eels from a stretch of water could be made. It would probably be a fairly long-term investigation, but he doubted whether the present methods of control exercised against the eel would reduce eel populations to really low levels before the department would have some useful information for the council’s consideration. Mr W. Jarvis (a representative of the North Island Association of Acclimatisation Societies) remarked that * acclimatisation societies must regard the eel as a fish whose habits required further investigation before any desion could be made. Market Prospects It was reported that the total weight of the live eels removed during the campaign from Southland rivers "was estimated to be about 294,0001b, which probably represented about 100,000 eels. In reference to the use of eels as food it was stated that advan-, tage was taken by three firms of the market offered by UNNRA to can for export during this last season. Three thousand six hundred and fifty cases (48 x lib) were packed, principally in Southland, with less quantities from Canterbury and Westland. While last seasqn UNNRA offered, a certain market, the possibilities of a permanent industry developing were considered by the department’s officers to be much dependent on /several factors. Supplies were not unlimited or concentrated, and without careful planning heavy wastage of raw materials wae inevitable in the case of a aum-

mer fishery drawing supplies in small lots from scattered points. The English market might, at the most, occasionally accept at a low price small quantities of carefully selected fish (frozen). Australia, which was a fish importing country, might offer a better and handier market. Difficulties of softening the backbone rendered unlikely the preparation of a straight pack for export which could compete with salmon on world markets. Canned smoked fillets might succeed where a straight pack might fail! A mere favourable market might be found in Dutch possessions and in Europe, than in English-speaking countries. There Avas a very great demand for cheap salted fish in Indonesia. The limited local market for fresh and smoked eel Avas greatly stimulated in Avar years, both by shortage of marine fish, and by the influx of refugees of nationalities Avhich esteem eels. Purther development of this market seemed possible if prejudice against the fish Avas aA 7 oided by its preparation into fillets. Offal comprised about 40 per cent, of gross Aveight in canning, and utilisation Avould enhance the chances of success. Offal Avas rich in oil of moderate vitamin content and its use, with or Avithout fortification by concentrates, for stock nutritional purposes, might reduce dependence on imports of oils for this purpose. Residual matter Avas readily convertible into stockfeeding meal or fertiliser. Challenge to Whitebait Mr Hobbs gave an opinion that the flesh of eel, shredded in flour and cooked in batter was comparable with Avhitebait in form and delicacy. On a motion of Air Spratt (a representatiA7e of the North Island Acclimatisation Societies) the council decided to recommend to the Marine Department that some approach be made to the School of Home Science and other interested authorities for the publication of recipes, instructions for preparing and treating eels and other measures necessary for the removal of prejudice and making this fish popular as food.