FISH WEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 2

FISH WEALTH.

FUTURE SALMON INDUSTRY. [FnOil OCE CoitRESrOXDENT.] WELLINGTON, August 14. The increasing valuo of New Zealand's fisheries under the fostering care of tho Marine Department was referred to in 'the House to-day by th 0 Hon G. vv. Russdl. Tho Minister mentioned the remarkable success wluch had attducieu th-. introduction ot qumnat salmon, wiuch, ho said, ran in millions up the Waiuid and ita;:gitata Rivers uuiing the pu« v season, tho usli ranging i in size liom iute-wn to luty 'pounds we<gnt. He expressed a belief that liitee was no reason why next season tons ot these saimon should not be for distribution among 'the New Zealand markets, while within live years they nugut be in a positj.cn to export ( thuusanus of tons of salmon to Austra- \ lia, where it could be sold ait a shilling ; pa: polled. Ho believed, in fact, that, 1 . .vilmou would become one of,' iV.w Zealand's greatest fish assets in j Lhc future. iUr Russell added the : op:uion that if Parliament would pro- [ vido tho money to the Marine Depart-' ment for development, our fishing in- j dustry could bo made ono of the lead- j ing industries of tho country. He went , on to mention the great success whioh i had attended 'the Department's control J of tho northern oyster fisheries. As an i instance, he remarked that during the! tlrit four wedt9 of tfiis season between •itK;O and 5000 sacks of oysters had been sold ir. and around the city of Auckland from which 'the Department had netted over £3OOO. Air Glover: You ought to lower the price. J Mr Russell: Well, tho people- seem t6 ; be glad to get thorn, and I am aure thoy enjoy them. He added that the Department was endeavouring 'to transplant oysters from Foveaux Strait to Cook Strait for tho benefit of the people in Wellington district.