THE PRICE OF FISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

THE PRICE OF FISH.

Sir.,—-I was very pleased to read the remarks by Mr. Parr in your Saturday's issue regarding the price "of fish. I consider the sooner something definite is done' by those in authority the better for the whole community. There are hundreds : of families in Auckland who never taste.fish from one year's end to another, simply because the price is beyond their means, and out of all reason. There is no denying the fact that fish is plentiful, and there -are many bands willing to catch and:fetch it in if they could be sure of disposing of it. but the fish merchants have it in their own bands, the fishermen having no. say in the matter at all. For instance; at the present time good catches are being made, but the men are restricted as-to the, number of bundles they must bring in, and are not allowed' to make mpre_ than two or three trips per week, arid in some instances, after a good catch, only one trip during the week. As regards the price asked by the fishermen being too high, I may state the men receive 3s. per bundle, which are.'made up •according to size, small fish, (schnapper) averaging 16 fish to the bundle. This is a very small wage, in -comparison to -the merchants' profit, for men who go out at the risk of their lives in all weather, and at any hour. Were the public 'm. general cognisant of the present conditions-exist-ing between fishermen and,merchants-thev would-gladly welcome the much-needed market, which will be the means of bringing the. price of &li within the reach of wW- ; '-x 'V Faibslay. . : Uevonport, January 19, 1914.