SHORTAGE OF FISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 16

SHORTAGE OF FISH.

POOR TRAWLING RESULTS.

SEARCH FOR NEW GROUNDS. GOVERNMENT HELP WANTED. There is.urgent need for the systematic exploration of possible fishing grounds round the coasts of the Auckland province i:f the supply of edible fish for the city and the populous country towns is to be maintained. Merchants report an unusual shortage of fish for the Auckland market and'attribute this largely to the fact that the steam trawlers now have to go outside the Hauraki Gulf for the summer months. The trawlint? grounds immediately outside the limit line drawn from Capo Colvillo to Rodney Point, some miles north of Kawau Island, are not providing sufficient hauls to warrant the trawlers continuing operations, and an endeavour is now being made by Sanforcl.- Limited, the biggest operators of these vessels in northern waters, to locate profitable grounds in tho deeper water offshore.This problem was discussed yesterday by Mr. A. W Brockie, the manager of Sanford, Limited, who complained that the Government was not only failing to assist in the finding of now supplies, but was actually going out of-its way to obstruct the industry by closing tho gulf to trawlers from time to time. He said that as the result of the fish shortage his company was endeavouring by experiment to open up new grounds, but go far with, little result. Staple Food of People. "The New Zealand Government has apparently not recognised, as tho British Government has recognised for many years, that fish is one of tho staple foods of the people," said Mr. Brockio. '"lhe British Government has recognised this to sucli an extent that it recently decided to expend approximately £30,000 a yoar, for a number of years, in experimental operations aimed at finding now and more prolific fishing grounds. For this purpose a vessel specially fitted out and capable of working over a wido area of deep water has been secured. As we are dependent on our own resources wo have been compelled to tako the place of the Government and have equipped a trawler, tho Thomas Currell, for deep water exploration. Fishing in really deep water has not yet been tried in New Zealand. Our vessels ordinarily fish in from 30 to 60 fathoms, whereas modern steam trawlers working out of British ports fire now actually fishing in water to a depth of upward of 600 fathoms and finding the fishing most remunerative. "In the course of our experiment we have sent tho vessel to try out depths of from 110 to 115 fathoms. At the point chosen, however, the experiment was spoiled by the presence of a vast quantity of some phosphorescent matter which illuminated the sea water and covered tho gear. In the opinion of the captain of the vessel no fish can ever bo taken in such circumstances, and the results of the fishing in this area bore out tho opinion. The trawler therefore returned to her usual grounds. A further attempt in deep water at another point was hold up by bad weather. We realise that this is quite the worst _ time of the year to expect to find fish in any quantities in deep water, as this is the schooling season when the schnapper come into the gulf to spawn." West Coast Waters. In the hope that there might be better fishing on the West Coast the Thomas Currell has now been sent to those waters and although trawling has been carried out there on former occasions, Mr. Brockie is not prepared to predict the results that might be obtained. The company has three boats working in the Bay of Plenty, but during the whole of the winter season the area has provided very poor fishing. This, according to Mr. Brockie, is very unusual for the Bay of Plenty, but the fish seem to have departed from their usual haunts. Last week, however, the fishing was a little better.

"Fish is part of the national food supply," added Mr. Brockie, "and the Government should surely help us to determine where the fish have gone to, and to locate new grounds. Fish multiply at the million ratio—that is well known. There is the old saying that 'There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it,' but I think that there are better fish in the sea than have ever been taken out. We do not know where they have gone to, but in the interest's of the food supply we should try to find out. If anything threatened the meat supply tho Government would be much concerned and would rally all its experts to see what could be done. Here we have a staple commodity like fish showing a serious falling off in supply and the Government is taking no interest in the problem. It is only adding restrictions and obstructions, instead of seeking to do something, constructive.".