TRAWLER FROM SYDNEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 11

TRAWLER FROM SYDNEY

HAUL NEAR NEW ZEALAND POSSIBLE BASE IN DOMINION Mr. Charles Cam, senior founder of the trawling firm of Cam and Sons, announced at the annual meeting of the Sydney Steam Trawler Owners' Association last week that he would visit New Zealand early in March to investigate the possibility of transferring his trawling operations to some port iR the Dominion. Mr. Cam outlined two exploratory trips conducted by him in his own trawlers. The first, in the Olive Cam, was a 22-day voyage to the waters of Bass Strait, and around the coast of Tasmania, extending to the Oreat Australian Bight. The result of that cruise, he said, was distinctly disappointing, and proved extremely costly.

A recent cruise in the trawler Alfie Cam lasted 20 days, and the waters between Australia and the vicinity of the New Zealand coast were explored. This trip Mr. Cam said proved more successful. He was agreeably surprised at the prolific quantities of fish abounding in those waters. However, the long voyage to and from the fishing grounds made the trip so costly that he now thought of transferring his headquarters to New Zealand.

The need for a research ship on the Australian coast has again been emphasised by members of the Trawler Owners' Association, and they are anxious that the Federal Government should replace the Endeavour so tragically lost in 19.L4. So far the Federal Government has made no move in the matter of granting funds, but a sub-committeo of the Cabinet has been appointed to examine proposals that have been made. It is possible that the Federal Government will agree to cooperate with the owners in acquiring a trawler for exploratory work. Many trawler owners state they believe that fish are to be obtained in large quantities much closer at hand and that they are anxious to assist in a thorough exploration of Australian waters. They say it is a mistake to suppose that trawling grounds off the east coast of Australia are played out and they are prepared to give the Federal Government every assistance. The Cabinet sub-committcc has already begun its inquiry and its report should be ready for the Cabinet mooting which will begin in Sydney on February 20.