HAURAKI GULF FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 11

HAURAKI GULF FISHING.

RECENT IIARGEF! CATCHES. RESTOICTION ON SEINING. SPAWNING GROUNDS FOUND, [by correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Fride-f. - The chief inspector of fisheries, Mr; A. E. Heffortl, has returned to Weliins;t<j<J from a visit to the .-Auckland district, where ho has beoti inquiring into the .state of the fisheries! im thoHiiuraki Gulf, When asked whether he could account for the fact of ttie great increases iu the catches of fish which have recently been reported, Mr. ILifitfVd said, two distinct factors! operate. One is the occurrence of natural variations in the propagation of each generation, the other is the effect of flshi'ng operations. If the fisheries are exploited to an' extreme degree there is naturally a reduction of the parerrt stock, and, consequently, a diminished number of progeny, white any measure that tends to conserve the parent stock will make for increased propagation of young. In connection I ,vith the schp.apper, the regulations brought in by the department for the protection of the spawning fish . and for the prevention of the destruction of undersized schnapper had dpuhtless resulted in hotter propagation. For the last few years a great deal-of -controversy had taken .place on the sub- v. ject oIE the new method of fishing with the Danish seine which■■wan introduced in. ■ 1923. This method enabled fishing launches to mako bigger catches and to maintain the supply of fish with more regularity than was possible.by using the older methods of set netting or line fish- • ing. Danish seining was, in fact, so - ■ , efficient that a certain measure of restriction was deemed necessary. The restric- , tions have been applied successively for • the List, three years with good results; - • But continuous a nd' comprehensive statisi tical returns; were necessary to enable, one , to ob tain a rational idea of the condition , of the fisheries. ~ •

During the spring months excellent catchiis of flounders haves been made by Auckland and Thames .fishermen, said "Mr. Hefford. At t'liis time of the year the l.wo common flatfish species, * generally known a;s flounder? and dabs (tho latter bi:ing 2. diatinguished by its rather diffiiirent shape and colour), tend to congregate on certain grounds for spawning. The actual location of the spawning ground has only recently been demonstrated by one of the local fishery inspectors, who nas obtained . " ripe" fish of both sexes from th.e„ catches. The spawning grounds of: the flounder and dab have been found at the opening of the Fiirth of Thames, between Ponui Island and Coromandel Harbour. The spawning of the two .species overlaps, that of the flounder being somewhat earlier than that of the. dab. .