THE KERMADECS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 9, 11 January 1908, Page 3

THE KERMADECS.

VISIT OF THE &INEMOA

ABUNDANCE OF FISH

PROJECTED FISH AND OIL IN-

DUSTRY

Amongst those on board the Government steamer. Hinemoa on her visit to the Kermadec Islands was Mr W. E. Cayley-Alexander, M.1.M.M.E., of Auckland;; whose object was to inspect the islands from the point of view of the value they offered for the establishment of a fish and oil industry, his inspection being at the request of a number of Auckland gentlemen. The Hinemoa left Auckland on December 28, and returned on January sth.

In the course of an interview, Mr Cayley-Alexander was able to give some information of an interesting character. .He said the vessel arrived at DenhanVßay, Raoul (the principal island of the group), on December 31, and here the members of the scientific expedition, who are to remain on the Kermadecs for 12 months to study the geology and flora and fauna, were landed. The landing was through heavy surf on a shingle beach. On the flat at the back <>£' the beach, Mr Bell was growing, profitably, yams, taro, bananas, melons, peaches, grenadilloes, coffee, lemons, citrons, mulberries, kumeras, /potatoes, and numerous other kirras of tropical fruits and vegetables, and was able to do so throughout tne year, in many cases obtaining twoyfer three crops. / "As my object," continued Mr Cay-ley-Alexander, "was to principally ascertain particulars as to^fiie fish and mutton-bird supply, I ijraSe^ a special point of going inlaj^ first tq^ collect data as to the iny^ton-birds. -^xThere was only a limi^i time at disposal^a^ the Hinemoa^as to leave in the after-" noon. Tjie mutton-birds exist in thousand^ and were very tame indeed ~/vne could walk up to them amic^ii them off their nests. The xmitton-bird season at Raoul Island Jasts froni August to April. The fish .carusist^jiixijnmpally of kingfish, known locally as c 'yellow-tail,", hapuka, rock cod, and the blue fish, moki, tarakihi, and vast quantities of sharks and whales. The fish exist all round the rocks, and frequently are there in such quantities that they actually force one another out of the water. They attain a great size, the kingfish frequently^ attaining 6ft. in length, though the average school fish is about 4ft long. The blue iish is peculiar to ithe Kermadecs; it is the shape of a bream, and of a dark-blue colour, and averages 101b weight. It cures remarkably well, and ghould fetch i high price amongst - epicureans. The 'prevailing winds sai'e^ -January~to April,:,N-3H"~to §<£.;! May to August,. !W. to-S.W.; aria September to Janu-. ary, calms, flight and variable winds. AT'MEYER ISLAND. "Oh tjie afternoon of the 31st ult. we weighed anchor and started for Meyer island, known -as the Dromedaries, on account of the sfeape. Meye-. Island is situated about half-a^mile north-east of. Rayner Point, Raoul Island, and is distant from Denham Bay about nine'rniles. There is an excellent boat harbour at Meyer Island, perfectly safe in,all'but caster-; ly and north-easterly wiijds, This, t however, could be made^safe in all; weather by a little blasting.'" There are several caves on the iskpjd, which would make good storehouse^. Unfortunately there is no fresh\ water. This will have to be provided \fojr by the erection of sheds with tanks to catch water, and an underground^concrete reservoir, so as to be ready\for I the rainy season. The fish and mat- [ ton-birds are here in great quantities, although there are more of the latter iat Raoul Island. Strange to sayi\ | there are numbers of paraquets on ■ | this island, whilst there are none on | Raoul, half-a-mile away, and while the mutton-bird season on Raoul is i from August to April, .on Meyer Is-, \ land it is from April to August, and the bird is of a somewhat different I type. | "The island is not so fertile as Ra- ■ oul, but sufficient fruit and vegetables could be grown. Whilst anchored off Meyer Island, we paid a visit to MiBell's homestead on the north side

of the island. Her,© there abound orange groves, lemons, peaches, etc., and if it were not for the present inaccessibility of its position, and difficult of shipment, it coul^ easily be made the garden of Auckltnd by systematic cultivation. This difficulty could be overcome by the erection of an serial tramway, but in any case a regular service of steamers would have to be maintained. In the sase of the fish and mutton-birds, a three month-, ly service by auxiliary vessel would be sufficient. < ■ MACAULAY/ AND CURTIS ISLANDS. / ' "On the 2nd inst. we silent the day lat Macaulay Island. _. This' is about 55 miles from Meyer Island,'and a landing was effected in Sandy Bay. The' island is covered with grass, andthera ! are large numbers of jparoquets and i goats on it, the latter! for the most part being in very poo? condition owing to the dry weather. There was only one tree visible on the island. There are but few mutton-birds here, but plenty of fish. The landing was accomplished without difficulty on the beach, whence we made our way round to the lava cascade, and there climbed the cliffs to reach the store depot erected for. the use of shipwrecked seamen, and then examined the island. The stores were intact, and we saw no sign of wreckage anywhere. "On the 3rd inst. we visited Curtis Island, about 22 miles south by west from,Macaulay Island. This island is va. miniature volcano,- and steam was seen issuing from all parts of it. It has the best boat-harbour of any island in the group, at Macdonald | Cove. There is here also a store depot for shipwrecked seamen. ft would be impossible at this stage to utilise this island in any way, although there are vast quantities of ffiji around about. Subsequently we proceeded to L'Esperance Rock, a barren mass of volcanic rock, and thence homewards. A FIELD FOR INDJSTRY. "I am :s,atisfied," concluded Mr Cay-ley-Alexander, "that with efficient management, the islands offer a most profitable fieH, as there are beyond doubt such h/Hge quantities of fish and mutton-birdV as to cause me to believe all the statements concerning i the capabilities of tijßse islands, which I 1 thought were grossly " exaggerated until I went and saw,tor myself. lih deed, I feel now thatvthe best accounts ever given me ot the group were considerably underestimated. I have every confidence in reWnmending the Kermadecs as a base"srf operations for an Auckland fish andVoil industry. \