A HERRING FISHERY ON THE WEST COAST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4292, 22 December 1874, Page 3

A HERRING FISHERY ON THE WEST COAST.

(Fx-om the West Coast Times, Dec. 7.) The pi’ospeot of such an industry as a herring fishery being established at Jackson’s Bay, though it may be some time before it be fulfilled, is certainly by no means the least intcresting feature in connection with the futux’e of the special settlement of which that locality is soon to be the scene. The simple fact of a solitary specimen of the true herring being obtained by some amateur fisherman on board the steaxxier Waipara cannot, of course, be quoted as an assurance of the existence of extensive and payable shoals of fish in the neigh-box-hood, but there seems to be other testimony to the effect that sxxch shoals do exist, and the px-ospeot of making the fishery profitable is, at least, in the opinion of one practical man so good that he pxxx-poses to eater upon the undertaking of fishing and fish-cixring. It is the statement of those wlxo have been for some time x-esi-deut on the spot, that among the rocks along the shox-e the fish ax-e frequently found, and in the nature of the bottom in the neighborhood of Jackson’s Bay there is indirect evidence that it is a locality to which herrings would he likely to x-esort, if their habits and affinities are the same as those of the hex-ring found on the Bx-itish coast. Should the facts prove to be as the evidence points, there is undoubtedly no situation on the West Coast better suited to become the resox-t of a fishing fleet, and a location for carrying on the fish-euxiug business, and it is well worthy of consideration whether some special encouragement should not be given to any one who is enterpx-ising enough to enter upon the trade. It is true that, on the West Coast of Otago, tlxex-e are places of superior shelter for such ships or boats as might be found suitable for the fishing, but tlxe abundance or pex-fectiou of shelter is not the sole element necessary. The presence of the fish is also equally x-equisite, and it is very questionable if the herring is one of those fish which would resort to the deep dark waters of these sounds, unsuitable as they must be as situations for spawning beds. Neither are any of the other hax-bors on the coast of Westland and Nelson localities where the fisherman’s lines would be cast in pleasant places, the nature of the river entrances', which are only available, preventing their regular use by sailing vessels, even if thex-e were the temptation of shoals of fish in the offing. Jackson’s Bay, has, in fact, as compared with other places on the coast, pre-eminent advantages as a fishing station, axxd it is highly desirable that it shoxxld be well and early ascertained when its vicinity is most the resort of the finny tx-ibes, and how closely the so-called herring resembles the herring of the northern seas. It has already been alleged that on the east coast of Otago the true hen-ing has been found, but, so far as we know, no regular fishing has yet been established, the situations where the shoals were seen not being in the proximity of any readily available hax-bor. Here the case is different, and shoxxld any one be found to enter earnestly upon the enterprise, it might become the Provincial Government, if it cannot adopt the bounty system which was the means of promoting the same fishery in European countries, to give it all possible encouragement by special shore privileges or such other advantages as would x-elieve the persons so employing themselves of preliminary expenses. It would be further desirable that the class of settlers whose home the new special settlement is destined to become, should include some of those who are experienced in the business.