FISH MUCH TOO DEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 8

FISH MUCH TOO DEAR.

S NO CHEAPER THAN BEEF.

PROF. PRINCE'S OPINION.

MARKETING SYSTEM WRONG.

"It is absurd Hint people in Now Zealand should have to pay as much for fish as they do for beef," said Professor K. E. Prince, Canadian commissioner of fisheries, yesterday morning. "Though there are abundant gupplios in the coastal 'waters and little difficulty in distributing catches to the- markets, the prices at which fish is sold are double those of other countries, with the result that the consumption is restricted." Professor Prince remarked that in the large cities of Canada, ho has bought fish at half tho cost that rules in New Zealand, Tlio local conditions are naturally favourable for cheap fish supplies, for not only nro there no immense distances between tho markets and the fishing grounds, but the consuming population is

'actually within a few miles of tho sea coast. Vet the public has to pay prices which are obviously high. The causes lof these high prices are to be found, ' Professor Prince considered, in tho system iof handling the supplies after they leave•the fishermen's hands. "I am satisfied (that tho future of the fishing industry depends upou a revision of the present methods of marketing," Professor Prince ; declared. "Both the fishermen and the [wholesale- merchants would be benefited 'if tho prices were reduced, for tho sales ; would oo trebled." Professor Prince added that there is great scope for an extension of the smoked fish industry. At present large quantities of fish are not utilised, because when the market is glut-t-e-l the deaiers refuse to accept the fishermen's catches. The surplus supplies cannot bo sold by tho fishermen, but they .would not be wasted if thev were placed on tho market as smoked t fish*.