The Waikato Independent Incorporating “The Cambridge Gazette.” SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1922 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2578, 29 July 1922, Page 4

The Waikato Independent Incorporating “The Cambridge Gazette.” SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1922 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Salmon-Canning Industry.

. Wonderful success lias attended the efforts to introduce salmon into New' Zealand rivers. For'some time there was little evidence of success in the efforts v made, and many prophesied failure,! but gradually it was proved that the lisk were doing well and multiplying, and of late years magnificent specimens of salmon have been caught in quite a number of ’rivers jin the South Island. Mr -,L. F. Ayson, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, - is most optimistic as to the, future of salmon in this Dominion, and,' in speaking to a Marlborough Express representative a. few days ago, expressed the opinion that the salmon-canning industry ' is going to be a big thing in New Zealand before many years have passed. Mr Ayson also predicts that the Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds will be to New Zealand wlmt the Puget Sounds are to America as regards salmon fishing. Some idea of the magnitude of the work undertaken by the New Zealand Fisheries Department may be gauged from the fact that Mr Ayson has just taken to Blenheim one consignment of no less than 000,000 quinnat salmon eggs. It is most gratifying to know that such excellent results are being achieved in*this important department. Some of the fish caught in the Waitaki, the Clutha and other South Island rivers were of . very large size and excellent quality, pronounced to be equal to any of the best American salmon, and there seems, no reason why -Mr Ayson’s •, prediction should not come true, and that ..we should build up a largo and profitable industry in the near future.

Increased Production Required.

One of the outstanding features of the dairying industry,. now recognised as one of the mainstays of the Dominion, is the fact that so much dairying is being carried on in a careless manner ,dne to the milking of “scrub” cows, improper feeding - and treatment, and unbusinesslike methods of farm ! management. The importance of this question , is very apparent ..if one only’ takes the trouble to make a little mental calculation. For instance, statistics

prove that the average yield of the dairy eou's milked throughout New Zealand is only about KiOlbs of butterfat per annum, whereas, under better conditions, this amount might be increased to almost double. There are many herds which, average 2001bs and 3001bs per annum, and in a recent issue the Morrinsvillo newspaper quoted the returns from a large dairy farm in that district which showed an average of 2651bs butterfat per cow for the season just ended. Statistics just to hand show that there were just over a million cows kept for dairying in New Zealand as at January 3.lst, 1921 —this number has boon considerably increased since then —so that, even a very moderately increased yield from these would mean an enormous addition to the revenue of the country. For instance, an increase of only 10 per cent, with butterfat at 1/0 per pound, would mean that the farmers of this country would earn another £1,200,000 per annum, while if the yield were raised from lOOlbs to say 2001bs—an increase of 25 per cent., which might easily be attained —New Zealand farmers would receive an additional income from their herds, estimated at 1/6 per lb. butterfat, of three millions sterling per annum. To secure this end is by no means an impossible task, though, of course, it will take time. The testing' of cows'is one of the best means of effecting an improvement,- for once the farmer has actual proof of the relative values of the cows, he can set about culling his herds. Proper feeding and any other details of farm management play an important part; in the results. Too much stress cannot bo laid on this question, which is, perhaps, the greatest weakness of the dairyingindustry to-day. Hundreds of “scrub” cows that do not pay for their keep are being milked in this country. It costs no more —less, in all probability—to feed a really good cow than a waster, and the sooner the herds are severely culled the better it will be for tho farmer himself and the country as a whole. Increased production is the keynote to success in the dairying industry, and every effort in this direction deserves encouragement.