FISH SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23718, 26 July 1940, Page 8

FISH SUPPLIES

STATEMENTS IN HOUSE PRICE AND QUANTITY. AVAILABILITY OF TRAWLERS [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, Thursday A statement that any shortage of fish at present was entirely due to the fact that some trawlers had been taken for minesweeping was made „by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in the House of Representatives to-day. He said steps were being taken to build trawlers in New Zealand to relieve the position. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—-Ric-carton), who spoke earlier, said it was impossible to buy fish at a reasonable price to-day, and in Christchurch at any rate the price had never been higher. Organising the Industry "The fishing industry was in a most chaotic condition when it asked to be licensed under the Industrial Efficiency Act," the Minister said in reply, "and it was easily the most difficult job undertaken under that Act, It is, however, heing straightened out, and, in spite of protests that have been heard, all the substantial people in the industry received their licences. The others were not really in the industry at all." Mr. J. Thorn (Government — Thames): They only wanted to get petrol to play about with. Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) : We want to know whether we are going to get fish. Assertion by Member "The shortage of fish is entirely due to the action of the Navy in acquiring the trawlers for minesweeping, ' Mr. Sullivan replied. "I did not hesitate to hand them over, but steps are being taken to build more trawlers for the industry." Later, Mr. A. E. Jull (Opposition— Waipawa) said there had been a sort of self-imposed embargo by some fishing interests in Auckland. Some of the trawlers which were not engaged in naval duties were not working _ full time, in order to. keep up the price. Mr. Sullivan: Will you give us the facts, because that is entirely new to me and to my officers? Mr. Jull: I will be glad to do so. Mr. Thorn said the price of the principal fish in Auckland was now a penny a pound less than in 1930. FEATURES OF. YEAR GOOD YIELD OF OYSTERS DECREASE IN TOTAL VALUE [BY TELEGBAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, Thursday A slight decrease in the value of all fishery products compared with the previous year is shown in the annual report on fisheries for the year ended March 31, which was presented in the House of Representatives to-day. The value of fishery products during the year under review was £527,858, compared with £531,802 during 1938-39. The report records that, while there was a decrease in the quantity of wet fish, whitebait and quinnat salmon taken, there was an increase in the amount of all shellfish, except crayfish. An increase in the whale catch is also recorded, with the. oil yield being 12 per cent higher than in 1938-39. "The condition of the rock-oysters, especially those from the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Islands, was exceptionally good," the report says. "The total of 5930 sacks produced was the highest since 1929,' when 6240 sacks were marketed."

The total quantity of oysters landed at Bluff during the 1939 season reached a new record total of 75,145 sacks, valued at £54,480, an increase of 7902 sacks over the previous record of 67,243 sacks for 1938. The quality of the oysters was exceptionally good. Both toheroa canneries operated during the winter season of 1939, although with increased working difficulties owing to the reduced density of the stocks on the Ninety-Mile and North Kaipara Beaches. The total pack amounted to approximately 85,0001b. of toheroa products, valued at £5233.

"The whitebait season, with a total yield of 1837cwt., was the poorest on record," the report adds. "The estimated total for the Waikato was only. 332cwt., compared with 1171cwt. for; the previous season. Regulations have been gazetted to license whitebait fishing as a serious occupation, an ant object being to enable a proper record to be obtained of the yield of the more important rivers."