THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 10

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

DEADLOCK AT STEWART ISLAND. RESTRICTIONS BY MERCHANTS RESENTED BY FISHERMEN. I (Special to Daily Times.) INVERCARGILL, February 14. A deadlock appears to have been reached in the fishing industry, so far as it relates to the Stewart Island fishermen and the Bluff merchants. The crux of the matter is that the merchants have decided to refuse all fish under lib in weight. Fishermen state that under such conditions it will not pay them to continue, and the merchants contend that a glut in the Australian market has reluctantly forced them to impose the new restrictions A Southland Times reporter visited Stewart Island on Wednesday, and, in an interview with Mr James Stuart, who was supported by several other fishermen, gleaned a few particulars from the point of view of the fishermen. “The new regulations posted by the fishery companies operating the freezers on the island state that from now on no fish weighing less than 11b net) or, alternatively, 11 inches in length (square-headed and cleaned) will be , accepted for freezing,” said Mr Stuart. “The Government regulations, I understand, state definitely that no fish over nine inches in length (squareheaded) shall be wasted.” The Stewart Island fishing fleet opened its season on Tuesday last, and as a result of these new conditions it is estimated that a total of 9501 b of blue cod and groper, chiefly blue cod in a small catch, was lost to the fishermen. The only alternative for the men was to pack the fish and despatch them by the tug on Wednesday to the Southland Hospital and charitable institutions, otherwise the fish would have had to be thrown to the gulls, and the Government regulations forbid this. The total mentioned does not include the fish rejected by the boats before the catches were landed at the wharf. “ As the majority of the fishing boats are owned by the merchants,” continued Mr Stuart, “it means that the men operating the boats cannot deal with the public on their own account. Neither can they run the fish to Bluff and seR them there, as a further provision in the fishery companies’ conditions of sale states that fish rejected at the freezer will not be purchased by the merchants at Bluff. Sixty per cent, of the fish under weight, once drawn from the water, die although returned immediately, and if these restrictions remain in force, it means that there must be a great wastage of fish. A Jib fish is better eating than the larger one, and even although it is over the Government weight it will have to be thrown back. . “ Feeling runs very high on the island at this/ wanton waste, necessitated through the fishermen’s hands beinntied. We receive 3d per lb for blue cod and 2d per lb for groper, which, when compared with prices demanded public on the mainland, leaves sufficient room for investigation by the public. Incidentally, the fishermen have to clean, head, and gut their catches before loading them into the freezer for inspection. Doubtless the Minister charge of the Fisheries Department will take action over the situation which has arisen, and which if allowed to continue will ruin the fishing industry at Stewart Island. Such rigid conditions seem unnecessary. " We cannot make a living at 25s per 1001 b,” added one of those present. “ We did not growl last year when the size was increased to 10. inches, but things are getting too hot now that the ring of merchants seems to be bent on squeezing out the fishermen. There is no other industry on the island, and about 140 men are affected by this imposition. They have to look to their end of the stick or tie up their boats. We cannot say ( Yes ’or ‘ No,’ but have to grin and bear it.” i “You could mention,” said another, that Mr W. Thomson, of Pegasus, still pays the men fishing for him 30s per 1001 b, despite the fact that the price was dropped in Halfmoon Bay from 20s to 255.” _ A reporter also got in touch with Mr W. J. Urwin, of Bluff, to secure the opinion of the mrchants in the matter. ‘The market in Australia is glutted with fish,” said Mr Urwin, “ and the result is that we have to supply a better quality fish to hold our own markets. Larger fish are being put on the market from the Chatham Islands and the West Coast, and we have to follow suit. Admittedly the smaller fish is better eating when fresh, but it must be remembered that all fish sent from here to Australia are dried and smoked, and it is found that .when the small fish is so treated it ■is little more than skin and bone.” Asked if the small fish could not be disposed of locally, Mr Urwin said a few could perhaps he sold, but with a spell of fine weather the market would immediately become overstocked. Some of i the small fish had been forwarded to | merchants in the north, and they had been surprised at receiving them, asking how they managed to get them off' their hands. The experiment had not been repeated. “Merchants operating on the Melbourne market last year lost from 6s to 7s per case, and, for that matter, there are still 5000 to 6000 cases on our .hands in Melbourne, and some in Syd.ney,” he said. “Last week the four Bluff merchants and one Invercargill merchant agreed to increase the size of the fish. It is only natural that if we .cannot dispose of the apialler fish, we will not take them from the fishermen. We took them last year and lost a lot of money on them, as they, are not the class of fish required in Melbourne. If wo could find a market we would ho ready to take the fish.” At a meeting held at Halfmoon Bay on Wednesday night of about 60 Stewart Island fishermen, strong criticism was levelled at the new conditions offered by the fish merchants. The meeting resolved to send a strong deputation placing a demand for 4d per lb for all fish over the Government regulation size of nine inches. It was resolved that all boats be tied up till the deputation returns, when, if necessary, further action will be taken by the Fishermen’s Union which was formed at the close of the meeting.