OYSTER INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 17

OYSTER INDUSTRY

HEAVY DRAIN ON SUPPLIES WARNING NOTE SOUNDED LAST NATURAL BEDS IN WORLD (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 9. 'lt seems likely that the oyster beds ir. Foveaux Strait are the only natural beds of deep-sea oysters of any considerable extent left in the world," states the Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr A. E. Hefford) in his report for the year ended March 31 last, which was presented in Parliament to-day. Need for Conservation The total quantity of dredge oysters taken during last season, 67,243 sacks valued at £48,751, set a new record for production, the report states, but this was not altogether a matter for congratulation in view of the scanty knowledge possessed of the real extent and potentialities of the beds and their capacity to withstand such heavy and increasing annual abstractions. " The average quality of the oysters, both as to size and condition," the report states, "was inferior to that of previous seasons which would appear to i indicate a deficiency of first-grade shellfish on the beds that have been worked and which may be an ominous symptom of s general reduction in stocks. Tn the case of practically all oysters marketed at the present time In other parts of the world, their production has been more or less assisted by artificial cultivation in some form or other. It therefore behoves us to see that our natural beds are conserved, and to ensure this it is necessary that investigations to give us a better understanding of their true extent and their potential productivity should be provided for as early as possible." Value of Sea Foods After pointing out that the value of imports into New Zealand of fish and shellfish had risen from £205,860 fin 1937-38 to £262,916 in 1938-39, the report states that consideration of these figures would appear to suggest that there was scope for more canning of New Zealand fishery pro ducts, provided they could be; put on the market at prices which did not confine them to the class of luxury articles. Most canned fish were particularly rich in elements that were essential for healthy growth and for the prevention of goitre as well as vitamin D, the lack of which was considered by authorities on nutrition to be the principle cause of defective teeth. It would undoubtedly be to the benefit of the rising generation, the* report added, when. the people ot New Zealand were enabled to eat substantially increased rations of food derived from .the sea, which should be regarded as essentials in the daily diet and not as side lines or luxuries."