DEEP SEA FISHING.

West Coast Times, Issue 301, 10 September 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEEP SEA FISHING.

(FRO3I THE MELBOURNE ARGUS.)

The subject of the deep sea fisheries on the Australian coast is one of great importance, both as regards the opening up of a productive industry and the supply of food for our population. The following communicatiori in reference to 'the first expedition of the Melbourne Deep Sea Fishing Company's cutter Redcliffe, will be read with interest : —

" In consequence of the deep interest ' The Argus' has taken in the development of deep sea fishing, I send for insertion the following 'account, taken from my log, of my fishing cruise in the Redcliffe, I being its master for the' trip. I had on board four men and a boy, and Mr Moody, a shareholder of the company, and who corroborates this account with his signature. The Redcliffe proved herself a smart vessel, and a good sea boat, in some of the roughest weather I have experienced during tlie forty years I have been engaged in deep sea fishing. She is about thirty-five tons burthen, and was completely fitted by the company with a fish-well and other requisites, aud supplied with gear, part being that used in the trial trip of the Falcon, and fur nished by the Government, through the courtesy of the hon. the Commissioner of Customs. We left the anchorage on the 18th July, the weather being foggy, and cleared the heads early the fol-

lowing day. We experienced very variable weather during the cruise, it being sometimes so calm that we could not use the trawl net, and- at other times so boisterous that we had to seek shelter in Seal Bay and Western Port. On ,the 21st we sighted King's Island, bearing S.W. twenty- foor miles, the wind being very liyhfc all day, • and towards night from the east. We put the trawl net down at half-past one and hauled it up at four a.m., the wind being strong from the north. The net contained a large quantity of fungus and other stuff, from the weight of which it gave way, and hundreds of fish were seen swimming about. The following varieties were brought on board : — lied mullet, silver mullet, skate, sole, rock cod, gurnet, liathead, horse mackerel, leather jacket, squidi, and cuttle-fish. Some of: these are of great marketable value. We then repaired the frawl net, having so to do several times* it not being in * good condition. The following day, we encountered a heavy gale, and ran to and anchored in Steal Bay. The next day, the gale 'having somewhat abated, we returned to the fishing-ground neai> King's ' Island, sighting the Vietoiia steamship on our way. We neither saw nor heard particulars of the wreck of the Netherby until upon • our "return voyage - King's Island being about forty-live miles in'extent, and we being on the east side and she on the west side of the island ; and though we were wcro within a few miles of the lighthouse, we saw no signals. After completely repairing the trawl net, we went on si»ore on the Klephant Rock, and caught and cookod penguins, which** have' the fla\or of rabbit. We saw there three coils, of wire rope, which, from their po.^ion. I inferred had been left on the ro-k purposely, and therefore I did not think it right to remove them. " We encountered repeated calms at times, and constant rain the whole cruise ; and though we caught a considerable quantity of- fish, and deposited

them in the trunks' (boxes perforated with holes, for the deposit of fish, for their preservation, and for the more easily packing them in baskets), we found them all dead, ' from some of the holes in the fish-well being pierced too high (easily remedied in port), and the" wind passing swiftly through these'Tioles and causing the trunks to be thrown about when the cutter )ay -to on either side, caused the fish to die.

'• The men being on ifae lay system — namely, their wages being dependent' on the-. success in catching fish — became impatient to return to Melbourne, . and I 'cousente3 to do ,so after visiting the -fishing-grounds of Westprn Port, *which I carefully examined, and then returned to the Heads on .Wednesday, encountering a foul' wind thence to 'Saudridge, where I arrived yesterday * i "Summarising my experience from this cruise, I may observe that a very few slight alterations in the Eedcliffe will make her completely* adapted for t her work, and the supply of two now' trawl nets^at least (instead of one), to provide for accidents and to prevent 'delay, will complete all requirements. , " I have again proved beyond dispute that a large fishing ground exists near King's Island, containing grejft varieties'of fish, some of great marketable value ; and I have . thus justified all the, Melbourne Deep Sea Fishing Company stated in their prospectus on my authority. This is the' worst fishing month in the year.* Next month large quantities ofr- schnapper may be taken; and the valuable trumpet-fish can be taken in immense quantities on the Tasmanian coast, whenever the company may tiling fit to send the Redcliffe or any other of their vessels in that direction. All the fishinggrounds of Western Port are now well known to me, and the valuable fish can be despatched thence — as is now regularly done from Hastings — by way of Pranks ton, to Melbourne,, in six hours. All that is now needed is the enterprise necessary to equip at least three vessels for the trade ; and with ordinary business talent in its. management, the price of fish (some kinds s*elling as high as 8d and Is per lb) may be. greatly reduced, and the supply immensely increased, to the advantage of the public and to that of those engaged in deep sea fishing. "C. E. Newman, - " Inspector of the Melbourne New Fish Market. " August 3."