H—ls

The estimated total quantity and value of the principal classes of fishery products marketed in the year 1945 are as follows : Quantity. Value. £ Wet fish .. .. .. .. 331,773 cwt. 558,404 Whitebait .. .. .. .. 8,698 cwt. 97,418 Oysters — Dredged .. .. .. .. 76,038 sacks. 57,028 Kock .. .. .. .. 5,476 sacks. 9,583 Mussels .. .. .. .. 13,156 sacks. 4,607 Crayfish .. .. .. .. 15,924 cwt. 27,449 Toheroa (canned products) .. .. 85,682 Ib. 5,003 Whale-oil .. .. .. .. 750 tons. 21,500 Total values .. .. .. .. £780,992 The detailed landings are summarized in Tables I to IX (pp. 44 to 53). The total landings of wet fish show an increase of 23,536 cwt. over the previous year's total of 308,237 cwt., while the total value has increased by £35,450. The quantity of oysters dredged from Foveaux Strait has increased by 12,089 sacks, and a decrease of 910 sacks is shown for rock oysters. The crayfish total is up by 2_,074 cwt., but the mussel figures show a decline of 2,234 sacks. In the most important group, the " wet fish " —i.e., all the ordinary fishes caught by all methods of sea fishing—the annual totals for successive years are as follows : Total Quantity. Total Value. Year. Cwt. £ 1934-35 .. .. .. 331,415 294,267 1935-36 .. .. ..363,448 313,106 1936-37 .. .. .. 363,128 360,406 1937-38 .. .. .. 355,687 413,516 1938-39 .. .. .. 356,114 424,643 1939-40 .. .. ..339,231 416,480 1940-41 .. .. .. 328,594 440,308 1941-42 .. .. ..326,863 458,393 1942-43 .. .. .. 311,971 442,976 1943-44 .. .. ..294,445 489,268 1944 .. .. .. .. 308,237 522,954 1945 .. .. .. .. 331,773 558,404 The total weight of fish caught is starting to climb up again, and it is hoped that the 1946 total will be up to that of 1935-36, which can be taken as a good pre-war year. With the return of those units still on service or undergoing overhaul and reconversion after war service prior to resuming their normal calling, it is felt that the position in regard to fish-supplies will rapidly become normal. As last year's report contained an exhaustive comparative analysis of the fishing statistics over a period of years, there is no point in again labouring the position after so short an interval. It will be seen that most of the tables offer comparative figures. In 1946 or 1947 when the trade has settled down after the disturbed war years, another analysis of the situation can be made which may be of some value to those interested in the industry.

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