PROPOSED TRAWLING EXPEDITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 9

PROPOSED TRAWLING EXPEDITION.

At last week's meeting of the Olago Harbour Board, The following letter, signed by Mr &■. M. Thomson, Dr Bonlmm, Mr A. Hamilton, and Mr F. J. Sullivan, was read: —

"You are no doubt aware of the steps which have been taken during the past two or three years to establish a marine fish hatchery and biological station at Purakanui. In connection with this matter, tre furtaer m-oseeulion of which is temporarily doferred pending the arrival from Home of Mr Ayson, who has been commissioned by the Government to obtain information on the subject, it is very desirable fuller information as to our local fish fauna s]iould be obtained. Apart from the scientific value of ouch information, the question ha? a very direct personal interest to Dunedin from a commercial point of view. If it can be ascertained that good trawling grounds exist along- the coast of Otago, a scheme is on foot to start a large fishing cpneorn in this harbour, which • would not only mean a greatly increased and varied local supply and a further development of the export trade, but which would also lead to the establishment of a factory for fish products (manure, oil, etc.). "A request has been made to the Government in this connection for the use of the Ilinemoa, but in the event of their granting the vessel for the purpose a considerable time must elapse before she is available. Pending the decision of the question we beg to ask the active co-operation of the Harbour Board in furthering a scheme which must be greatly beneficial to Dunedin. If your board would grant the use of one of your steamers for a few days for tray/ling expeditions up and down the coast within a few miles of the heads, we will place on board of her one of the new Otter trawls recently imported from Great Britain by Mr ¥. J. Sullivan, and will make preliminary tests of the ground. A considerable amount of capital will be embarked in this undertaking should the preliminary surveys prove patisfactory."

Mr Begg thought that was a very important matter. He noticed that at Napier the trawling industry had been started with extraordinarily good results, as an enormous quantity of fish had bean got five or fix miles from the coast where it had been supposed that fish were not plentiful. He thought that the board should grant every facility to those who proposed to prospect and develop the industry in Otap;o. Captain M'Kinnon said that a few days' expodition would not be sufficient, but it should extend over a fortnight. The Chairman thought the members would be all satisfied that the board should assist the undertaking at any time at which the harbourmaster could spare the Plucky. Mr Mackebbas suggested that the letter should be referred to the harbourmaster for a report. Mr Ritchie thought that the board might give its consent to the application subject to the approval of the harbourmaster. It was agreed to grant tho use of the Plucky ofc some such time as she was not required by the harbourmaster..