COMMERCIAL USE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26226, 9 August 1946, Page 4

COMMERCIAL USE

THE FRESH WATER EEL HIGH VITAMIN CONTENT According to information given to a Daily Times reporter yesterday by Mr L. Millar, secretary of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, negotiations are still in progress for the utilisation of the fresh water eel commercially. It was evident, Mr Miliar said, that U.N.R.R.A. was seeking supplies of eels, and to overcome the shortage of shipping space the canned variety appeared to be the best proposition. The present difficulty was to ensure that the trapper obtained a reasonable return for his work, which was of an arduous nature, although eels were probably one of the easiest fish to catch owing to their instinct to trail to bait.

Probably the easiest method of catching eels is by the use of eel pots, and these can vary from types of elaborate construction to a simple baglike device. One of the most novel and successful eel pots consists of a sack tied to a round tin similar to the 71b syrup tin, weighted with a stone and baited with a rabbit. Any pot of this nature seems to be effective provided the bait is fresh. Another difficulty in regard to the utilisation of eels is the necessity to have them treated while still fresh, which means that quick transport must be provided. This may be overcome by the use of stout cages of small mesh wire netting for holding the eels in running water while awaiting a sufficient quantity for transport. Several inquiries have been received by the Otago Acclimatisation Society for particulars of the proposed market for disposing of the fish in New Zealand, and as soon as finality can be reached the society will announce all the information that is available.

Although the present inquiry is for eels for export, the people of New Zealand are beginning to realise the food value of the eel which has been proved scientifically to contain probably the highest vitamin content of any fish, whether fresh or salt water, found in New Zealand waters. It is believed that if eels were marketed in an attractive form there would be an increased demand for them.