Scallop Bed Kept Secret

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 1

Scallop Bed Kept Secret

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, June 14. A scallop bed discovered in Golden Bay a year ago but not revealed to the Marine Department, is providing vast hauls for a Nelson firm.

A director of Associated Fishermen, Ltd., of Nelson Mr C. Guard, said the .firm was not ready to harvest it so decided to leave it.

“We didn’t tell the Marine Department about it because we felt we were under no obligation to do that. “We have had no noticeable co-operation from the department. They have done two surveys in the area and have not given us the facts of any findings,” he said. The fishermen wanted the scallops to grow larger. The bed could last a fortnight, possibly longer, the general manager of Associated Fishermen, Mr E. C. Samuels, said today.

“The boys are bringing them in so fast and in such terriffic quantities at the moment that we just can not keep up with them,” he said. “The way they are bringing them in will give us an alltime record of production. “But how long it will last with all the boats thrashing it is anybody’s guess.” Ten boats were now working the bed, six belonging to Associated Fishermen. Mr Samuels declined to give the position of the bed for fear of competition from boats from Wellington and other ports. The bed is in 18-20 fathoms of water, which is deeper than the average. The scallops were smaller and firmer than the ones found in Tasman Bay and had a harder shell and different colour.

“But they are a much better product than Tasman Bay scallops,” Mr Samuels said. “An ordinary case of scallops contains about 180, while we get 200 of the new sort to a case.”

The wholesale price of scallops had increased, but the retail price had remained the same.

“This is because we have to pay the boats more to go out,” he said. “As the bed is further away, the boats have to stay out two days Instead of one day,” he said.