FISHING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 11

FISHING INDUSTRY.

NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

FUTURE SOURCE OF WEALTH.

NEED FOE RESEARCH WORK.

! [BY TELEGRAPH.:OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The necessity for deep-sea study and research work in New Zealand waters was emphasised by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., of Dunedin, in addressing the Wellington Rotary Club yesterday. As New Zealand had so much coastline, he said, the fishing industry was one of importance, which should be encouraged. He believed in time it would necessarily become one of the Dominion's primary industries. The average man in New Zealand knew practically nothing about the fisheries that, abounded off the New Zealand coasts." He knew nothing of the habits of the fish, where they went or of their life history. Mr. Thomson devoted a considerable portion of his address to describing the habits of several species. In the breeding season, he said,' the sea was covered -with thousands of eggs. Mention was made of the fact, that a 351b. groper would lay as many as 5,000,000 eggs. This would give some idea of the amount of life in the sea, which in turn had to live on some- i thing smaller. ]

Economic Viewpoint. The study of New Zealand ' fish had, first of all, interested the speaker as a biologist, and then he discovered that it had to be looked at from an economic and, financially, from a national viewpoint. The Government had done something in the way of research work, but he "was satisfied that, the possibilities-of the New Zealand fisheries were riot realised as yet. In time he had little doubt that they would be productive of much national wealth. First of all, it was necessary that they should be carefully examined, and as much information as possible bearing on the matter obtained for future guidance. It was not possible to enumerate the extraordinary amount of life in the sea, which simply teemed with matter. It had been said that in time we might deplete the fisheries on our coast, but he contended that this could not be done. With all thb heavy demands from Great Britain, Germany, and other countries, : the supplies in the North Sea were as satisfactory to-day as ever they were. Mr. Thomson added that the migratory species were not much fished for on the New Zealand coasts. . New Zealand, he said, had a coastline of about 5030 - miles, which was & large one in comparison with the land area. It was, therefore, evident that in time New Zealanders must be a maritime people. At present we did not realise the possibilities in the fishing industry and its importance to the country. In time it would undoubtedly be • the source of enormous wealth for this country. At present it had not been exploited to any real extent. A Great Primary Industry. The time would come, he believed, when the fishing industry would be one of the great primary industries of the country, as New Zealand would in time become a great maritime country. It was, therefore, desirable that the right sort of British sea folk and fishermen should be introduced. That was one of the most important essentials. Knowledge was also important and he could not overestimate the value of research work The value of the British fisheries in 19Aj was estimated at £29,000,000. Japan £91 nnS£ft ntU ?ru nation ' - valued here at £21,000,000. The approximate value in iSew Zealand was £385,000. Mr. ThomFnnnnm e * d th ** „ Britain landed some 1,000,000 tons of fish annually, while the Dominion's total was 1200 tons.