MONEY IN FISH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25289, 24 August 1945, Page 8

MONEY IN FISH

WHALES _AND EELS INDUSTRIES ADVOCATED , (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday New Zealand was losing a great deal by not developing the whaling indus-try,-said Mr W. M. C. Den ham (Government —Invercai'gill) in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives today. He quoted the average yield of oil from various species of wjhales and mentioned some of tlie many valuable products derived from whales. In a recent season, he said, about 150 whales were taken in the Tory Channel, but operators there lacked the. equipment necessary to take the full value from the whales they captured. ■ Meat Tasting Like Veal The meat was thrown overboard, Mr Denham continued, whereas Britain's new food Minister had recently announced that it was hoped to restore the fats ration lat*>r in this year and whale steak was worth a shilling a pound in Britain. It was tender edible meat with a taste like veal. The British Government was giving its support to the resuscitation of the whaling industry which before the war was worth €50.(MX),000 yearly. New Zealand should have at least one factory ship which would enable the country to take a share in the industry arid make full use of the whales which at a certain season frequented New Zealand waters. Mr Denham considered that by the new quick-freezing process it would bo possible to process whale meat so that it would be ready for handling by retail butchers. Eels as Food Supply Then there were large quantities of eels in New Zealand streams, he said, and they provided valuable food. Between 5000 and 10,000 could be trapped annually without interfering with the source of supply. There was room for the establishment of an industry there. Mr G. 11. Mack ley (Opposition—Masterton): I suggest we try it out in our own dining room. Mr Denham said that eols were a valuable food and in good supply. Mr H. J. Aeland (Opposition—Ternuka): Do you " ; ke eels? .Mr Denham: I do. 1 have tried them once or twice. Another asset in New Zealand waters was seals around the coast, he added. They had been protected tor many years and he considered it time, in the interests of the fisheries alone, that they were utilised. Their skins and oil were both valuable and their flesh and bones could be converted into valuable fertiliser.