NEW SHARK INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1927, Page 7

NEW SHARK INDUSTRY

AN AUTHORITY ARRIVES.

Auckland, Jan. 2.

New Zealand is shortly to see a new industry that will depend upon the shark for its products, according to Dr. A. Ehrenreich, F.R.G.S., the greatest living authority on .sharks, who arrived from Vancouver by the Aorangi to-day. Dr. Ehrenreich, who is managing director of the English firm of Marine Products, Limited, is a doctor of science and a member of the American Academy of Science, as well as a member of many other scientific bodies. Dr. Ebrenreieh stated he had studied sharks and their habits for 20 years, and although he had never before been to New Zealand he knew exactly the kind of fish inhabiting its waters. He had come to the Dominion with the object of opening- up works here for making use of shark products. The products from the shark included leather, fertiliser, valuable oil, glue and a substance from the pancreatic gland for medicinal purposes. ”1 hope to have factories established in New Zealand si a year s time, and our aim is to catch 1009 sharks a day, stated Dr. Ehrenreich. "This is an industry that lias progressed-wonderfully in other parte of the world, and these waters abound with the fish.”

Describing the methods of catching that would be employed by the company, Dr. Ehrenreich stated the fish would be taken in nets and drowned. There was ao fear, as in the case of whales, of killing.ytli the sharks off. The more sharks that were caught the more they would .breed. At certain stages of their fives they were cannibals, and killed each other off in enormous numbers. Dr. . Ehrenreicfr will remain in New. Zealand a few weeks, and .will then proceed to Anetiajia.