SWEDE FISHERIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 61, 15 March 1943, Page 2

SWEDE FISHERIES

HEAVY WAR DEMAND BOATS DRIVEN BY TAR FUEL. Tile scanty meat supply and stoppage oi lish imports from Norway and Denmark nave caused a heavy demand lor fish in Sweden, whicn can scarcely be fully met under the present conditions. Several Swedish fishing boats have been war casualties, and the loss oi gear and damage to the ooats are frequently reported. However, agreements. with the State Food Commission guaranteeing the price and sale of the entire catch have enabled tne fishermen to gain a lair income despite the perilous situation, ana good catches are still being reported irorn time to time. The usual type ot broad-beamed west-coast wooaen vessel is retained, the size being in general 70 leet in length and a 20-loot beam, powered witn a heavy-oil engine of one ot the Swedish makes of up to 180 h.p. In spite ot tne lull shape the speed is well up to 11 knots. The notable increase of engine capacity is a result ot the experience that the catch is improved witn more power, especially for trawling, it is even claimed, according to an article in the shipping journal SvensK Flagg, that the more powerfully enginea boats take a higner percentage oi large-size fish wnen herring trawling than boats with weaker engines. Swedish fishermen now have to burn mainly tar oil in their engines. As the result ot various devices it is affirmed that this fuel has turned out a fully acceptaole substitute. xiie manuiacturers ot the Swedish “Skandia ’ engine, tor example, have constructed a special l.bricating device which keeps the cylinders tree from carbon and consequent excessive wear. These engines are started direct on tar oil and are reported to run well both on full load, light or no load.