CANADIAN FISHERIES EXPERT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 2

CANADIAN FISHERIES EXPERT.

PROFESSOR PP.IXCE IX OAMAItU

A deputation of local fishermen, composed of Messrs Perks. Todd. Bruce and others met 'Professor Prince and Mr L. F. Ayson (Inspector of Fisheries), in the Mayor's- room at the Opera House yesterday afternoon. Though the meeting was closed to the Press, Professor Prince willingly gave a condensed account of the proceedings to a Mail reporter. Professor Prince was much "ratified 1 by the concise, intelligent, and comprehensive, way iii which facts were placed before him by the fishermen, which, he says was done in a more time-say-ing and -instructive manner tlraii iii any town previously visited by him ; n the Dominion. As a result, he had u most satisfactory confeirence. He was pleased' to hear ■that there was no waste of fish locally, whereas in other centre,-; fish quite fit for food was thrown away. Our red cod, he said, would be considered a useful table fish in Canada. The groper, our most- important fish, wa.s reported to be ■decreasing in inshore waters, and it was a!so< reported that the .sprat, once■' .so numerous in our harbor and around the coast had decreased greatly within the last few years. One did not appear to have been connected with the, other, but he cou'ld say with all authority that the supply of what was locally, known as tire sprat, or similar feed: —fish for the bigger species, ha-d a marked effect on. the abundance or otherwise of the latter. .Measures for the increase of the supply of sprats would 1 be considered by him and t'he Dominion advised. The decrease jof groper and the high railway charges for freighting fish to other centres "appeared to be the only troubles of the Oamarir fishermen. High freights militated considerably against- the opening up of other markets for fish such as red cod, for which there was not an unlimited local market.

Professor Prince emphasised the importance of avoiding waste in fish products and offal, which were of great value' as manures.

A deputation of members* of the Waita.ki Acclimatisation Society, composed, or Messrs W. Sump-tor and Swinard. interviewed the Professor, and as a result of their communications he is of the opinion that Waitaki as.a distinct is in a favorable position compared with other districts. A fact he considered of much importance was the undoubted establishment of the quimiat salmon in our'waters, a fish which was considered to give the most sport of Canadian salmon.

Professor Prince cordially thanked the deputations and the Mayor for their courtesy and information, and'invited communications in writing regarding any points which the shortness of his stay precluded discussing. _ Asked whether he considered the fishing industry of the Dominion capable of expansion, Professor Prince emphatically replied ".Yes." He left for Kurow by tho 4.10 train, accompanied by Mr Ayson, to examine the hatcheries.