THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9436, 6 August 1889, Page 3

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

TO THE EDITOK.

Sra, —In your issue of the 3rd inst. appeal? the proposed by-laws for the fish market, to be submitted to the Board on Tuesday. They are certainly an improvement on those submitted some weeks ago, but yeb far from being liberal and what they should be. Why should fish pay more wharfage* than any other goods landed on the wharf , , and why should fishermen be debarred from landing their fish out of their crafts iuto carts and carted away like any other commodity, is beyond my comprehension. Again, why should fishermen be compelled to sell their fish by auction ? Have they not as good a right, and are as free to sell their fish in any way they choose, as any other class of people in the community2 The sheds on the jetty could be let at <a reasonable rented for the convenience of sale and cleaning fish, but the Harbo«r/ Board has no right to charge the fishermen landing charges, no more than that paid by any other local produce, say Is per ton, and not by the dozen as proposed. The proposed by-law shows how very little the members of the Board know about the importance of the fishing industry. I bpent some years of my youth in Nova Scotia, where a large number of the population are engaged directly and indirectly in the fishing industry, fish and coal being the principal exports of the province. In the spuug of the year, hundreds of the finest, schooners afloat (excepting those employed by their neighbours, the Yankees, in the same tmsiness) are fitted out for the fishing, taking large supplies of provisions and gear required. Last year, fish to the amount of eight million dollars, or say £1,600,000 waa exported from the province, besides the local consumption—which is large, fish takinG" the place that meat does here. Would it not be a good thing to foster such an industry here, and give every possible encouragement to the fishermen, instead of obstructing them by oppression and unjust! harbour regulations ? The fishermen should be represented on the Board by one of themselves, or someone who would advocate their rights.—l am, &c, D. H. McKenzie. Auckland, August 5,1589.