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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 72

Fish is a great deal dearer in Wellington now than it was in the early nineties. For example, ten years ago largo blue cod were sold wholesale for two shillings a dozen. For the same fish five shillings a dozen would now havo to bo paid, there is no doubt that the supplies obtainable from the easily accessible fishing grounds round the coast are diminishing. The scarcity has been so marked of late that local dealers have had to seek fish as far afield as the Bluff. But even the rich fields off the Southern sounds are showing signs of depletion, and the applications from Wellington have had in some cases to bo refused. It is not that there is not still an abundance of fish off the New Zealand coast, hut the equipment required is far greater than that used hitherto. A Bluff fishing firm is now endeavouring to supply the need. It has recently added to its fleet of auxiliary engine fishing boats a steam trawler fitted with a refrigerator. The vessel cost £2OOO. This equipment is necessary, since the boat has to travel about two hundred miles to reach the best fish-ing-grounds. Naturally, the fish cost more than fifteen years ago, when a fisherman could catch his haul ten miles from the Bluff in a boat that cost £SO. Even at Orepuki Bay, once considered the richest fishing-ground on the coast, the trawler was only able to take one hundred and three cases in a ten days’ cruise from which she returned last week. Ten years ago a fisherman caught forty-five cases in a day there. However, there is said to be still a plentiful supply at Orepuki Bay, and up towards Cascade Point there is practically virgin ground to be exploited. Another price-raising influence is the competition of the Melbourne market. Neiv Zealand blue ood shipped to Melbourne is sold smoked at 9d a pound.