THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13935, 18 July 1917, Page 8

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

. STEPS FOR DEVELOPMENT. QUINNAT SALMON. In the course of an interview with a Lyttelton Times representative the Hon. G. W. Russell remarked that there wens one or two matters in connection with the fishing industry that required dose attention, 000 l Storage. "Some months ago," said the Minister of Marine,'.' 1 requested the Department to formulate a policy to establish cool stores and freezing chambers for lish, based somewhat on the lines of the Fruit Industry Act, 1913. Under that Act power was (sven to the Government to establish cool stores, etc., in order to encourage the producers of fruit, In my opinion more important ■assistance'should be given to the lish industry in order that the fishing trade should be placed on a sounder footing, Enormous wealth is going to waste in this great Dominion asset,

"Above all, observed the Minister, "fish as a food should be brought to the the people as a check 011 the high price of meat food at the present time. The proposal has been accepted enthusiastically in various parts of the Dominion, From the Thames district—certainly the finest fishing ground in the North Island—applications have been received for assistance. The Municipal Co-operation, Wellington, lias consideration of the matter in view in regard to joint fiction by the council and the Marine Department, ami within tli'j. 1 last few (lavs L have received leters from the Fishermen 'a' Union of Stewart Island and from the Southland Development Leaguo (In'vercargill) urging the claims of the fishing industry of the south in the direction indicated. Li the letters emphasis is laid on the fact tlmt Professor Prince, in his report, classes Stewart Island as the best fishing ground of the Dominion." <\

Mr Russell went 011 to say that the whole -question was one of finance. Whether there were possibilities <of spending money in other directions, consilering the heavy war commitments, was a matter rather for the Minister of Finance than for him. "But," sai.l the Minister, "I am strongly of opinion that the development of the fisheries is a matter of supreme importance, and eVery possible effort should be made to plate the industry 011 a proper footing." Qiiinnat Salmon,

[ Mr Russell referred to quinnat salmoil, and said that ho was probably within the mark in saying that tin's year the Waitaki river had been 'qntered by hundreds of tons of quinnat. It was practically certain that tli; "runs" next year would bb even larger. While prepared to meet as far as was reasonably possible the wishes oi. anglers, the Marino Department 6ould not think of sacrificing, the revenue 'derivable from the' utilisation of. the fish, running into many thousands of pounds, nor of ;allowing pleasureseekers- to ; stand : .in the way of this food supply of the people, which would obtainable in the early months ox next-year. The question of ,how the salmon could bo. harvested l'roiii tho Waitaki river next year was receiving attention. Other rivors .in which the lisli had been jSeeii) thd Orari, Eangi-it-ata;' liakaia and Waiiuiiktiiiri,- might ,ivell: 'be ! ]eft to fishermen, until the I stipplyvin' tlieiii.Mvarraiits ai'tioii' such as is proposed to be applied to .' tiny Waitaki ii.ext ,year,. 'A conference will probably;take place at an 1 early dnto ,\viflt' iiili'fcsli'd fii'i'liiiiatiHafion sow.- j tics; to.- discuss, iiiatfers in connection wfcli\ salmon find trout fishing, butj witl: imlioatc(l ( :;%ill • ,not be>(lenai'to'difroiri.^.''Uj, r ;