THE DIMINISHING FISH SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 9

THE DIMINISHING FISH SUPPLY.

Sir, —It has often caused, mo surprise when I see: this matter again. cropping up that the Inspector of Fisheries has not had a reason to advance,, hut 1 suppose he thinks "silence is goldon." I have also wondered why some of our. really scientific , men—and , there iuo such in the Dopiinion—have not ventured their opinions. As hone of the above have dor.o so, and not being such a shining light or fisliy authority, I givo my ideas for'them tp bite, at., 1 believe in England most of the fish there are migratory, and only appear on the trawling grounds at certain seasons, and then are caught in enormous quantities 'and of. the best quality. 1 do not know'whether there are any, and what,' restrictions as to the taking, etc. In this country there are, I believe, but few migratory fish; those that aro most known are. the warehou and the Auckland mullet. Other fish occasionally found in. the market are the garfish, kingfish,- and' trumpeter. So tar as I am aware, all tho fish that are generally seen; in the shops for sale, such as the schnapper, hapuka (groper), flounder, sole, uutterfish, teraKihi, mackerel, kawhai, cod, ling, 'are found on the coast, and caugßt all tho year round. Surely there must bo a breeding season for these fish as well as for trout, and if the taking of trout is prohibited for oertain portions of the year the taking of tlio.. native fish,, except at certain times,' should also be strictly prohibited. It is only common sense that if tho fish are allowed' to bo taken during tho spawning season it is only a question of time when they will bo practically exterminated. It is all very well for, an inspector to drop across individuals who, now and again, a,ro found not to. be taking '''sufficient care to put back the small-sized fish that are continually being brought up in. the nets and left lying on tho shore, but the'inspectors are not numerous enough and the' appointment of more would bo very costly. :

■I am confident jtbat /unless a close season is madefor certain fish it will not be long before tlioy will become too dear for the ordinary individual to consume, and exterminated. -How;is it that the 'oyster-beds' in the Auckland province were allowed to be so much worked last year that this year has to bo a close season? There must have been some neglect or carelessness on tho part of those,in authority.—l am, , NO FISH no.