THE OYSTER SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15747, 23 October 1914, Page 7

THE OYSTER SEASON.

CLOSING THIS MONTH.

PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES.

SUCCESS OF STATE DEPOT.

The last of the season's oysters reached the Government depot on the King's Wharf, on Wednesday. The shipment consisted of 94 sacks from the Bay of Islands beds, pickers having ceased operations locally more than a month ago. After October 31, any persons .having oysters in their possession are liable to prosecution. Ample opportunity has therefore been given to dealers to get rid of uieir supplies.

The most notable feature of the season has been the experiment of selling small parcels at the State depot. The State has proved a most successful retailer, and although the depot is not in a central position, the season's figures show that 1157 lots of cysters have been sold in 3s tins, and 3301 lots in Is packages. When war was declared there was an appreciable falling off in the demand for oysters, and it was found necessary to suspend operations at Russell, in order that the 18 pickers employed in the Hauraki Gulf might not have to work 6hort time. Later, however, the market completely recovered, and although the local beds have not been picked for some time, the 25 pickers in the Bay of Islands have been fully employed of late. The Season's Pickings. The season's pickings have amounted to 8068 sacks or about bOO sacks less than last year T but comparing well with any of the previous seasons. From the Bay of Islands, 4023 sacks have been received, and from the local beds 4042. The balance of three sacks came from Hokianga, but as the quality was not up to standard shipments from that locality, were discontinued. The 360 sacks sold in retail lots were all consumed locally, but the Department found a strong aemand for Auckland oysters in most parts of the Dominion. New Plymouth alone took 200 sacks, while Christchurch, Reefton, Westport, Wellington, Thames, and all the inland towns of the Auckland Province were customers on a large scale. Finest Oysters From the Gull. The finest oysters have all come from the Hauraki Gulf, particularly from the Wniheke beds, where over 2000 sacks were picked. Before the Government took over the Maraetai beds they were practically stripped of their oysters, but the sprinkling left have developed under Government supervision into extremely good beds, and over 750 sacks were received from this source during the season. From the Rangitoto beds 350 sacks were secured, and from Tiritiri over 100. The oysters obtained from Russell were of splendid quality. At the opening of the season complaints were made as to the size of the oysters, but for the rest of the six months no complaints at all have been received by the Department, either as regards quantity or quality. Visit of Inspector of Fisheries. Mr. L. F. Ayson, chief inspector of sea fisheries, is now visiting the beds in the Hauraki Gulf and in the Bay of Islands. Speaking to a Herald representative a few days ago he said that the Department | had carried out a good deal of re-planting I during the last four or five years, and with marked success. One of the objects of his inspection would be to see what could be done in the way of extending the beds and replanting certain areas. He considered the season had been a most successful one. the absence of complaints towards the end of the season being a most satisfactory feature of the year's operaj tions. The supply had always been equal I to the demand, and during' the last few months there were more oysters available than the Department required. Consequently several of the best beds, both in the Hauraki Gulf and in the Bay of Islands, had not been picked, and would be available at the opening of next season. A Favourable Season. Th« manager of the Fine's Wharf depot. Mr. J. H Letcher, considered that the season compared favourably with other years, and was a good deal better than the season of two years ago. He stated that the retail experiment had been a great success and hp anticipated that when the denot became better known more people would av.-Ml themselves of an opportunity to secure cheap oysters.