THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Thames Star, Volume XXV, Issue 4841, 13 September 1894, Page 4

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

(To the Editor of the Thames Stab.) Sik,—l know you are at all times ready to afford any assistance in your power to ventilate any subject of importance to this.community, and when I read G. A.Eeddish's letter in your last night's issue, I thought as the Thames is not in a very flourishing condition anything that can be done to find employment for those who are able and willing to work, ought to be encouraged; and as the fishing industry is one which should be fostered in our midst any help that my feeble pen '.can giye;th.e matter may convince those who havWany doubts on the subject that there is an industry at our very doors which, if properly organized, could be ■worked up into a most successful business "by forming a company on the co-operative principle. The capital could, I feel sure, be raised easily even although things are ; .dull, and when the company is floated agencies should be established in all the -principal seaport towns in New Zealand, arrangements being made with the Union and other Companies for transit. It is •well-known by those who have travelled through New Zealand by steamer route that there is nothing obtainable in the South Island to at all compare with the - flounders and mullet, which we perhaps think slightingly of. Mr Joyce, speaking in the House of Representatives on August 10th, made the following remarks in the course of an interesting speech on the Financial Statement:— "If the Colonial Treasurer will just think out that fishing scheme, and put the Stella in commission; for a short period, as was suggested by the new member for Chalmers, to look for fishbanks, he will do very great good. If this were done, with the assistance of Capt. Fairchild in a few years we should find hundreds of thousands of our own colonists maintaining themselves and others bjr this industry." Now, as far as this district is concerned there is no need for the Government to send a steamer to look for fish banks, Fish abound for at least 40 miles; viz.: from Thames to North Head, Auckland, and can be caught at several given points, such as at the Piako, Sandspit, Waiheke Bay, etc. I understand i there are about 20 fishing boats available at the Thames alone to catch fish, but the trouble seems to be to get honest men at the Auckland end who should be content with a fair and reasonable profit on the article. Granting the fact that fish is a perishable , -article, yet this is and always has been the prime cause of dissatisfaction—that ihe dealer in Auckland will not act j fairly, so that, the 'Jhames fishermen should put their heads together and see if something cannot be done to remedy past and present state of affairs. Thanking you in anticipation for inserting these few lines, and hoping something practicla will come of the correspondence on this subject started by Mi* Reddish, who, I believe is quite competent to pilot the thing through; and that the cry, " Fresh Thames fish, ho," may yet be heard throughout New Zealand. I am, &c, A Lovek of Floundebs.