H—ls

REPORT ON FISHERIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1948 Attention is drawn to the fact that all fisheries statistical data in this report is for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1947. The estimated total quantity and value of the principal classes of fishery products marketed in the year 1947 are as follows: — „ ... Value. Quantity. g Wet fish .. .. .. .. 438,300 cwt. 802,496 Whitebait .. .. .. .. 7,056 cwt. 79,027 Oysters — Dredged .. .. .. 81,518 sacks 61,138 Rock .. .. .. .. 5,280 sacks 9,240 Mussels .. .. .. .. 16,261 sacks 5,563 Crayfish .. .. .. .. 18,052 cwt. 42,134 Toheroa (canned products) .. .. 43,4001b. 2,871 Whale-oil .. .. .. .. 640 tons 25,000 Total values .. .. £1,027,469 The detailed landings are summarized in Tables I to IX (pp. 36 to 46). The total landings of wet fish show an increase of 57,979 cwt. over the previous, year's total of 380,321 cwt., while the total value has increased by £142,400. The quantity of oysters dredged from Foveaux Strait has decreased by 7,838 sacks, but there is a slight increase of 177 sacks of rock oysters. The crayfish total is up by 1,286 cwt., and the quantity of mussels is up by 5,693 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. 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 1946 .. .. .. 380,321 660,096 1947 .. .. .. 438,300 802,496 The total weight of wet fish, 438,300 cwt., is the highest recorded total and represents a continuation of the rise shown last year. It is the cumulative result of the three principal factors listed last year —viz., (1) the return of several large catching units after war service; (2) re-engining and replacement of many vessels after the war; (3) exceptionally fine weather prevailing in most of the fishing-grounds, especially during the period of seasonal congregation of some of the more important types of fish, coupled with the comparative rest period imposed by the war years. It is a result that was expected and is a normal reaction in a fishing industry at this phase of getting into its stride after war years. The same result has been shown in other fishing-grounds elsewhere, and in some cases the peak has been reached in a much shorter period.

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