THE OYSTER SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 11

THE OYSTER SEASON.

CONDITION OF THE BEDS. INCREASED YIELD LIKELY. ] AMPLE SUPPLIES EXPECTED. Prospects for the coming oyster season . which opens early in June on a. date yet to be fixed are distinctly promisiffg, and there is every indication that there will be ample supplies of rock oysters for the Auckland market. The condition of the beds in the waters fringing the Auckland isthmus was explained yesterday by Mr. L. F. Ayson, : chief inspector of fisheries. He stated that generally the beds were in good am- ' dition and the department expected to pick more oysters this season than was the case last year, although for various causes a yearly shrinkage was taking place in the extent of the natural beds. The oyster deposits along the Coromandel coast of the Hauraki Gulf were steadily improving and it was estimated that more would be taken this year than for the past 20 years. In addition to this there was a corresponding improvement in the quality. Mr. Ayson said that it was expected that there would also be an improved yield from "the beds in the Kaipara Harbour from which about 1400 sacks were taken last year, while it was apparent that the yield from the deposits in the Whangarei Harbour would be quite equal to that of last year. Considerable improvement had also been noted at the* beds around the Great Barrier which were now in better condition than had been the case for the past 12 years. Dealing more particularly with the steady shrinkage in the extent of the natural beds Mr. Ayson said that there were various reasons for this. One was the establishment of a number of new townships along the shores of the island of Waiheke, with a consequeut depletion of the beds, and another of the causes was that oyster food reserves had been set aside for the Maoris in the Bay of Islands. It was becoming increasingly difficult, therefore, to keep up a satisfactory supply for the Auckland markets.