THE OYSTER SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15750, 27 October 1914, Page 5

THE OYSTER SEASON.

SATISFACTORY RESULTS.

BEDS IN GOOD CONDITION

The -oyster-picking season is now over, and the beds in the Hauraki Gulf and at the Grent Barrier have been found by Mr. L. F. Ay son, Government inspector of fisheries, who has just completed an inspection, to bo in a very satisfactory condition.

Referring to the matter yesterday Mr. Ayson said the sections which had been picked this season will yield a large quantity of oysters for the market next year, and the beds on the sections which were replanted on the Coromandcl coasts and islands were coming on very well indeed. I There were practically no oysters on some of these sections when they were replanted, but now there was quite a large number of young bivalves on them all along the coast. Mr. Ayson pointed out that it will bo some years before theso fr.""(i arc in a fit condition for picking, but on one or two sections on the Coro- I niande! coast there was reason to antici- ! pate, from the appearance of the beds, I that the Department would be able to i take off some oysters in about two seasons I from now. A considerable amount of re- I planting had been done at Port Fitzroy, : Great Barrier. He had not seen these i beds, prior to his recent visit, for about three years, and he had lound a (Very '• great improvement. Tho total quantity j of oysters sold this season had not been • ascertained yet, but althougn the demand ' had fallen off considerably during the past two or three months it was expected that the total disposed of would turn out to bo j about the same as last season.

The outlook for next season was very . bright, Mr. Ayson said. It had not been necessary to touch some of the best beds in the Hauraki Gull 6uch as those at j I'onui Island, Patiki Island, and Cabbage I Bay. These were, therefore, held in re- j servo for next year. By the system ot ! pick'ng adopted by the Department, nono i of the beds was depicted, but they were ' judiciously thinned out. The resuit was ' that an equal quantity could be picked , next season to that picked this year. It ' was intended to continue the extension of , the bids by replanting th : season, and ■ after some further inspection the beds for extension would be selected. Mr. Ayson ; addea that the Department only employed I first-class pickers, and the men secured ] this season had given every satisfaction. I and were taking an intelligent personal ! interest in the conservation of the beds. {■

To-day Mr. Ayson proceeds to tho toberoa beds in the South Kaipara district, where it is reported large supplies exist. He then proceeds to Aratapn. Uanners of the toheroa, who are operating on the beaches at the back of Arntapu and Dargaville have applied for leases of certain areas, and Mr. Ayson will investigate the matter, with the view of reporting to tiie Department how the beds should be. svbdivided. Ho considers that quite an important industry is likely to be worked I up in connection with the toheroa beds.