DOMINION FISHERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17337, 8 December 1919, Page 9

DOMINION FISHERIES.

"BEST. SOUTH OF THE LINE." IMPROVING OYSTER BEDS. ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson, who recently returned from Australia after making an exhaustive inquiry into the fishing industry as carried on in the various States is to report to the Government on the results of his investigations, no doubt, with a view to the adoption of some schemes for the development of the industry on the New Zealand coast, and the development, also, of marketing methods. Mr. Ayson Has always been an optimist about the possibilities of the industry in New Zealand, and he has come back from Australia more convinced than ever that in its sea fisheries i New Zealand has an asset the value of which is scarcely realised by anyone in the country. Discussing this matter to-day, he said New _ Zealand certainly had the best fisheries south of the line if they were developed. The prices charged in Australia for fish, both wholesale and retail, | were very much higher than were the rule in New Zealand, even at this time, when it was generally considered that the price of fish was abnormally high. Need for Oyster Culture. Mr. Ayson made some remarks about oyster fisheries. " All the oysters coming into the Sydney and Brisbane markets," he said, "come from leased artificial beds on the foreshore. The price m Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne runs from £3 to £4 10s a sack of 120 dozen. This is a very high price compared with that charged in New Zealand for oysters from our natural beds. Rock oysters are sold by the New Zealand Government from the depot at 14s per sack of from 95 to 100 dozen. This is an enormous difference. "We have no artificial beds in New Zealand. In the North we Save improved and extended the natural beds, but, with the increasing demand for oysters, the Government must one day take up the culture of oysters on prepared beds on a more extensive scale than has yet been done. Suitable Areas for Planting. " I am of the opinion that we have oil the shores of the Hauraki Gulf, in the Bay of Islands, and in the estuaries in the North, a very large extent of foreshore where the culture of oysters could be carried on by methods similar to those used in Australia. With regard to the Foveaux Straits natural beds, I think these may be extended by continuing the planting of oysters on a suitable bottom in Cook Strait. To find places suitable for Cook Strait. will find places suitable for planting it will be necessary to test the bottom. This may be done also in I parts of Foveaux Strait where oysters do not exist now." In regard to State trawling and State r marketing, Mr. Ayron said nothing he r had seen in Australia had caused him to l change his opinion, as expressed to the ' Industries Committee before he left. His i opinion then was that the State should i not embark on trawling*enterprises, but - should rather encourage and assist fishers' men in the purchase of boats and gear i and in the erection of cold storage depots. t Trout Hatcheries. In trout hatcheries and in the stocking j of rivers with trout, Mr. Ayson says New Zealand is far in advance of any of the r Australian States. He mentioned that r there were some fair trout streams in Tasmania. That country was making a bold i bid for tourist traffic, offering as induceb meats the trout fishing and the. scenery e of the State, but Mr. Ayson says that e neither in fishing nor in scenery can Tas- ,. mania or any of the other _ States of the i- Commonwealth compare with New Zeai- land. He has come back much impressed a: with the possibility of developing the s. tourist traffic between Australia and New d Zealand, and he urges that generally more d should be made of our scenic beauties and -- other attractions.