EXPORTING FROZEN EELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 9

EXPORTING FROZEN EELS.

SATISFACTORY EXPERIMENTS. " LONDON PRICE TOO LOW." " Many attempts have been made to utilise the large supplies of fresh-walcr eels that are available in lakes ancl.rivers throughout New Zealand, states the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce. "The best market for these is thought to be the United Kingdom, where large supplies of live eels are received from the Continent. Several shipments of frozen eels had been made from the Dominion in recent years, but the results obtained were not entirely satisfactory. In order to investigate the possibilities of landing frozen eels in London in good market condition, a committee consisting of the chief inspector of fisheries, the Government analyst and a representative of the Department of Industries and Commerce, was appointed to carry out research work in this connection.

After reviewing tlie various methods of catching, cleaning, freezing and packing the eels shipped on previous occasions, tho committee arranged with a Wairarapa syndicate to catch a quantity of eels. These were prepared at Lake Wairarapa under the supervision of the fisheries branch of the Marine Department and sent by motor to cold store in ANellington.

These eels were treated in three different ways, and frozen at the lowest temperature available and held in cold storage pending shipment. The report received from London regarding the condition of the eels on arrival was satisfactory as to those prepared in one particular way. The defects pointed out in the others would be guarded against in subsequent shipments. The value placed on the consignment in London was from 6d to 7d per lb. This was not considered sufficient by the syndicate concerned to justify a continuance of shipments at present. The decision on this matter was also influenced by the fact that the market required eels not exceeding one pound in weight, which were difficult to procure during the winter season.