PRICE OF FISH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11294, 21 August 1922, Page 4

PRICE OF FISH

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PROPER LANDING-STAGE URGENTLY NEEDED. REPRESENTATIONS TO COUNCIL. There was twice as much fish in tba Wellington fish market the other day as could be disposed of at the auction, and oO per cent, of it had to be put into the freezer. Most of it is brought in from Cook Strait By boats from Bona Bay and Island Bay. A considerable quantity also comes from the French Pass, Pelorus Sound, Paremata, and Warihou Bay, while the flat fish mostly comes from Blenheim and Westport. A great proportion is groper, bonito, ling, hake, bass, and moki. WHOLESALE PRICES. In a chat with a “Times” representative, Mr W. A. Smith, secretary of the Fishermen’s Association, said that tho average price since May had been 4d per lb, although, when abundant supplies were available, it was as low as 3pi, bnt during a shortage the figure has gone up to 7d. ‘The public are not consuming fish very largely just now, and are growling because it is not cheap enough. The retail prices for groper and hake are round about lOd, and smoked hake Is 3d per lb, and the fishermen are only getting 3jd clear. FISH SHOULD BE CHEAPER. “If the retailers would be content with a little less profit the public would buy considerably more fish and there would be no need for it to go into the freezer. If the fishermen could feel assured that the whole of their catch would be sold right out, they would not object to taking 3d per lb, provided that it also reached the public at a cheaper rote. Occasionally the public have an opportunity of buying in the wholesale market, but that is only when there is a glut and before the surplus goes into the freezer. The prices charged in the shops are considerably affecting the -sales just now, as meat prices are so low, and fish cannot compete. The fishermen consider that it should be possible to sell in the shops at 7d a pound. BOATS AT WORK. “At present there are 19 launches running from Rona Bay and Island Bay, bringing fish into Wellington, ana they employ 75 men between them. At Rona Bay one of the launches has a 504i.p. engine, and is one of the most expensive to run in the fleet, for its monthly hill for benzine will sometimes run into £7O. The equipment of some of the boats is also very expensive, being of special make for fishing in deep waters, sometimes 250 fathoms deep. This all makes the working expenses high, no that 3jd per lb is not an excessive return for tho results of their work. LANDING WHARF WANTED. “The association was formed two years ago, and negotiations were opened with the City Council and the Government with a view to obtaining a landing wharf, stages and slipway for the fishermen at Island Bay. The association feels that if its members had better facilities far landing and handling the fish, and it was sold at mare reasonable prices to the public. there would bo a far larger consumption _ol a valuable food, in addition to which it would be an inducement to other fishermen to come to Wellington and eo increase the supply.” A QUESTION OF FINANCE. On inquiring at the City Council office the “Timm” reporter won informed that tho council had bad tho matter under consideration, but no move was being made to proceed with the work of erecting a landing stage at Island Bay owing to financial pressure. Tho Mayor had been m communication with the Marino Department on the subject, but tho main difficulty was finance. :