NEED FOR RESEARCH.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 4

NEED FOR RESEARCH.

NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES DIMINUTION OF SUPPLIES. "Sea fishing in the Dominion is not as good in some parts as it, was. In the past, ii was presumed that there was a superabundance of marine wealth in New Zealand, but there is no basis for such a belief. On grounds that have been fairly well fished, supplies are showing signs of marked diminution, especially the sheltered inshore waters that have been intensively fished over a number of years." That is the opinion of Mr A, S. Hefford, Government Inspector' of Fisheries.

Where New Zealand is left guessing, he continued, is in regard to the extent of the resources not yet tapped. The country would have to continue ■guessing until more definite investigation was made into the conditions, "on the face of it, there did seem every' ground for making a comprehensive survey of the marine resources of the Dominion, but the task would be a big and expensive one. It could not be done satisfactorily unless it were comprehensive and, thorough from beginning to end. A search would have to be made for information of organisms useful and inimical to fish life, the distribution and habits of fish, and a wealth of other subjects.

Some people advocated the killing of sharks so that the supply of llsh useful to man might be increased. The good of this course, however, was problematical until definite information concerning sharks and fish were obtained. As an industry, the future of shark fishing depended upon the extent of the Bupply and the efficiency of the means 'employed in dealing with it. Old-fashioned plant would lead to greater expense and more labour, so that profits would be lessened. On the other hand, unless the output were great, a man could not afford to install an expensive modern plant. It all boiled down to the old question of the need of more comprehensive information about marine life in Dominion waters.

The expense of research in this direction would be enormous. Not only would those interested have to be equipped with information, about fishing and fish, but also' there remained the work ashore, which would call for a skilled staff and highly-efficient equipment. The study of fish was only the beginning of the work.

Asked about the extent of poaching on the oyster-beds of New Zealand, Mr Hefford said that undoubtedly poaching went'on, but not to such an extent as to make any appreciable difference to the output. In the northern waters, the chief enemy of the oyster traffic was nature. The season had not been good for some time past.