THE OYSTER DERBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22956, 7 February 1938, Page 8

THE OYSTER DERBY

OPENING-OF THE SEASON / RECEIPT OF FIRST BOTTLE . [by telegraph—own correspondent] INVERCARGILL. Saturday After an absence from the menu for four month;;, the popular Foveaux Strait oysters appeared in Bluff and Invercargill for evening meals and sup« per, and they were welcomed with the usual enthusiasm, although many connoisseurs maintain that oysters cannot be thoroughly enjoyed in summer weather. The new trawling season opened in fine weather and the fishing fleet went out in favourable conditions. Catches, however, were below those of last year and the vessels returned to.-a Bluff with smaller supplies than on the opening day last year; While the thought of the beginning of a new season for oysters pleasure to n:ost people, much interest centres on the traditional Derby which has been described as one of the. strangest rac<?s in New Zealand. There was only one serious contender for the trophy awarded by the editor of the Southland Times to the merchant delivering the first bottle of oysters to him, but that competitor put up a J*" markable performance to reach the city with the first supplies'at 10 o'clock in the morning. It was at this hour th# Mr. A. Tail arrived in Invercargill with a limited supply. and his customer* were able to enjoy the luxury ot oyster# for lunch on the first day of the se^ These supplies were brought to l * by launch from the beds and rushed S motor to the city. For delivering t£ first bottle at the office, of the 011 land Times, Mr. Tall received the rl bon inscribed. "Winner. Oyster DerW, - 1938." The mam supplies were received fey most fish merchants in time to the early evening demand and workers went homG with bottles.