BRITISH TRAWLER SEEKS FISHING NEAR CANARY ISLANDS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 8

BRITISH TRAWLER SEEKS FISHING NEAR CANARY ISLANDS

COMPLETE VOYAGE EXPECTED TO TAKE A DAY OR TWO LESS THAN TO ICELAND.

A very largo share of attention is at present being devoted to the possibility ol developing the fishing areas in the vicinity of tbo Canary Islands for the benefit of the British fish markets. Attention has been focused on the subject by the experience of the Fleetwood steam trawler Bon.thorpe and by the information brought to the country by the men forming tho crew of tins ship. Particularly is the prospect of working these grounds of interest to Fleetwood, for of the fish to bo obtained at these southern grounds a large 'portion is hake and the Lancashire port ip the largest liake ccntie in the world. The Canary Islands arc over 1800 miles from Fleetwood and the journey there occupies seven days, while it is reckoned that four or fivo days are sufficient to obtain a big catch of fish. Consequently about 19 days would be absorbed by the fishing voyage, a day or two less than that occupied iu a trip to tho Icelandic areas. At present the Canary Islands are

worked mainly by a fleet of 80 small schooners which land their catches at Las Palmas and by a dozen larfc Spanish trawlers—mostly of about 150 feet long—which land their catches at Barcelona. The catches of the local schooners are for the most part salted and exported to the west coast of Africa.

An important factor favouring the development of the Canary Islands fisheries from the point of view of the British fishing boats are that'both coal and icc arc to lie had in abundant quantities at Las Palmas. Owing to tlic high temperature of the sea in these areas there is only about 14 degrees of difference between the temperature of summer and winter.

The crew of the Fleetwood steam trawler Bouthorps says the water teems with fish, and the smallest size of hake is much larger than those caught onj the western Scottish fishing grounds.' Those associated with the fishing in-] dustry who take a long view of firings are also deeply interested in the pros-j poets of this Cauary Islands fishing] venture. I