THE SALMON INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 5

THE SALMON INDUSTRY.

FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE.

RESTORATION ACHIEVED. EXPERTS CONTENTION PROVED. [FROM OT-R, OWN" rORBE.STOS"D)TN T T. ] VANCOUVER, Sept. 1. Ever since the big rock-slide into the Fraspr River at Heli'a Gate m the Rockies almost completely cut off the salmon from their spawning grounds in the lakes and upper reaches of the river, Mr. J. P. Babcock, the greatest living authority on salmon, has persisted in the view that the Fraser could again be made the chief source of supply of the sockeye, the most commercial and edible branch of the numerous salmon family. Proof of Mr. Babcock's contention i 3 now shown in the enormous run of salmon in the river, that has puzzled fishermen and cannery operators. It is a direct result of Babcock's efforts in seeding the spawning beds of the river five years ago. From the eggs of that spawning the immense sockeye catch last season was hatched. The river's ■output last year was the largest since 1917., and 21 per cent, greater than that of 1926, the year in which the beds were seeded. The total catch was 455,886 cases, of which 77 per cent, was taken by the Tjnited States from the American portion of the Straits of Juan de Ftica, in the centre of wlucti the international boundary runs. It is one of the legacies of careless British diplomacy in the determination of t.he border that, the bulk of the benefit of Canada's efforts at salmon conservation goes to the State of Washington, which has, down through the years, defied the United States Government, in its desire to agree to the representations of Canada that a conservation treaty bo signed. And, remarkable a3 it may sound, the most implacable opposition to the treaty, which has lain unsigned for two years in the White House, is the Canadian-born Governor of the State of Washington. The reason for the phenomenon—the piscatorial, not the political phenomenon —lies in the extraordinary conditions of the year 1926, the only time in twenty years, except 1922 in which the Canadian salmon pack from the Fraser exceeded the American The possible explanation is that, the 'fish kept north of the international boundary, wnen entering the Straits of Juan de after their four-year sojourn in the Pacific. The phenomenon is the more remarkable when it is recalled that the salmon, homing to the tiny lake of Shuswap and the Rocky Mountain rivulets that feed the Fr:tser, pet no rest from American fishermen, who trap and net them seven days a week, whereas, through a desire to conserve then* national heritage, Canadian fishermen operate only five days a week and use tackle of a more sporting type that the Americans. Mr. Babcock has proved that the Fraser, from which the first salmon were exported to Australia and N"ew Zealand nearly 70 years ago, may be restored to its former prestige. For the moment, Canada is content with that achievement. MODERN CO-OPERATION. SYSTEM IN DENMARK. TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION. [FROM era OWX COBBESPONUENT. ] LONDON, August 21. Those who hare studied trading conditions in Denmark—and a number of New Zealanders have recently visited that country —mu3t be struck with the great difference there is between the co-opera-tive system there and the so-called cooperation in New Zealand. Probably this marked difference can be attributed to the human characteristics of the two nations.

The Danes are educated from their earliest years to take their places in the great system. There are to-day ICS,OOO families in Denmark cn farms ranging in area from 1 1-3 acres to 24-J acres. They have been put there by a. beneficent Government. Some of them have only a dozen pics, three cows and a few hens, but they manage to subsist very largely on the produce of their land. Every district; is arranged under a cooperative system. Above that there is the provincial co-operative system, and higherstill the national co-operative system. Suitable men are appointed to fill the executive posts, and once having been appointed they are left to do their jobs. No one interferes with them unless they are inefficient, when they may be removed. No farmer is forced to enter into file co-operative system, but once he ha 3 made up his mind to do so he signs a contract which binds him for a period of years. If ho breaks his contract he can ie prosecuted under the common law of the country and- fined heavily. The result is that a farmer inside the system attends to his business, delivers his milk or his pigs to tho proper quarter, and then goes back to his work. If any trouble arises there are experts on the "spot to search out the cause and to suggest a remedy. The whole system is a triumph of organisation. If one compared it to a form of government the nearest approach perhaps would be feudalism with absolute monarchy at the head. STOCK SALES. VALUES IN NORTHERN CENTRES. [FROM OCR OWS CORRESPONDENT. ] "WHANGABEI, Monday. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report, harms held sales at Waikiekie and Kamo in the past week. At. Waikiekie only a small yarding came forward and comprised chiefly dairy cattle. Bidding was fairly keen with prices at, late rites. Jersey beifer3 made £3 L2s lid t.o £1; Shorthorn, heifers, £3 sa; cows and calves. £2 10s; afore piss, £3 7s fid. At Kamo a fair yarding came forward to a large attendance of buyers. Dairy cattle met with good competition and sold readily at late rates. Piss aiso met with fair competition at late rates. Jersey cows made £4 to £S 2a 6d; small Jersey heifers, £2 15s to £3 ss; Shorthorn cows, £3 10s to £5 10a; cows and calves, £1 Is to £1 lis; empty Shorthorn heifers. £1 ins; yearling Shorthorn heifers, ISs; store pigs. £1 10s: weaners, la 9d to 18s. Tho North Auckland Farmers' Co-npera-t.ive. Limited, report having held sales at Towai, Hukerenm, Waiotira and Kamo. The yardings were very light, for this time of the year. Dairy c*tt,le advanced slightly but store cnttlo were again hard to quit. At Tcwai the yarding was very small, and sold as follows:—2-yr. steers, 30s; yearling Jersey cross steers, 8s; store cows, old, 12a; bulla, 10a. At Hukerenm there waa a good yarding of dairy cattle, which sold very freely at better than late rates. Good heifers made £6 10s to £9; medium heifers, £1 15s to £fi; inferior, £3 to £4 10s; cows, £1 IQs to £5 ss; inferior, £3 tc £4 10a; cows, £4 10a to £5 as: inferior, £3 to £4 ss. The sale at Waiotira saw an average number of springers and a few yearhng steers yarded. Dairy heifer 3 made £4 10s to £5 ss; inferior, £3 to £4 "2s fid; yearling Hereford .steers, 325: yearling Shorthorn steers, 25s to 2Gs. At Kamo there was the largest yarding this year. Dairy cattle showing quality sold well, but the majority offered were inferior aorta. Dairy heifers, good, made £5 10s to £(i 73 6d; medium, £4 15s to £5 7s fid; inferior. £3 to £4 7a 6d; cows, good, £6 to £7 2a fid; medium, £5 2s fid to £5 17s 6d; inferior, £3 10s to £5; ox beef, £3 4s to £9 14s: lighter, £7 10a to £3 Is; fat heifers. £6 10s to £8; fat cows, £3 13s to £5 12s fid; fat wethers, lis to 17s; store weathers. 9s fid; ewes nnd lambs, 8s fid. Store cat'le: Twoyear steers, good, £2 14s; inferior. 265; yearling steers, 243; store cows, 25s to £2; boner cows, 1,-ia to 20s; yearling Jersey heifers, 358 to 50s; yearling Shorthorn heiier3, ISa to 35a; 2-year Friesian heifers, 20s; yearling grade Jersey bulla, 235. Pigs: Weaners, good, 16a to 20a; slips. 22a to 20s; stores, 26a to 28a 6d.