HEAVY FISH SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21285, 12 September 1932, Page 11

HEAVY FISH SUPPLIES

LOW PRICES FOR CATCHES UNEMPLOYED AS FISHERMEN REVIEW BY A RETAILER Heavy supplies of fish in Auckland of recent weeks, which, together with the low prices ruling, was said to be responsible for the master of one fishing boat distributing his catch free, were discussed at tho week-end by a retail dealer. He said the season had been a remarkably good one as far as catches were concerned, and the greater number of fishermen operating, as a result of the unemployment situation, had helped to flood the market with fish. A contributing factor to the situation, said the dealer, was that the weather throughout the winter generally had been fine, which always resulted in increased supplies. In the past three weeks, however, supplies had been more plentiful than ever, far greater than the Auckland demand could absorb. Even at the present low price which retailers received from the buying public tliey could not sell so much fish as formerly. Some Boats Partly Idle The low prices offered to the fishermen for their catches were discouraging some of them from taking out their boats as frequently as formerly, as they held that it did not pay them to do so. There were many good fishermen among the unemployed, and numbers of them had fitted up boats and started fishing rather than remain idle. The result was still further to depress prices. There would seem to be a possibility that the positiou might adjust itself, in that an increasing number of boats would be tied up and supplies would fall, perhaps even to the point of actual shortage. Reports that fish had been dumped back into the sea were said by the dealer to arise from an arrangement under which some of the fishermen operate. He said some of them had arrangements to sell in «'i restricted market. It occurred sometimes that tho whole of their catch was not required by the purchasers, so that they were faced with accepting only a nominal suni for the remainder or with throwing it back in the sea. Annual Restrictions Fending

Bven if circumstances did not bring about a reduction in supplies before November a decline should occur in that month. On November 15 the annual spawning season regulations would come into force. These were aimed at conserving tho fishing grounds and remained effective until March 15. Between these dates boats were required to operate outside more distant boundaries. Many fishing boats wero not equipped to go further afield than usual, and this could be said particularly of sonic of tho boats fitted up for the time being by unemployed. Although tho present demand in Auckland was below normal there seemed no doubt that, even with a brisk demand, potential supplies were more than adequate and should leave a good export margin, if export could be arranged on a generally workable scale. Some New Zealand fish were of a quality unequalled in any other country. If an export trade could be organised it, should absorb the labour now directed toward fruitless ends.