N.Z. FISHERIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2293, 29 October 1914, Page 3

N.Z. FISHERIES

PROFESSOR PRINCE'S REPORT A FIELD OP ENTERPRISE IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS The report of tho Fisheries of NewZealand by Professor Prince (Commissioner of Fisheries for Canada), which was presented to Parliament yesterday, is a most interesting dooument. And yot it is only a preliminary report; a detailed report, will no doubt oo submitted later on. At the outsot, Professor Prince stated that New Zealand requires for domestio use' at present between five and six million pounds of fish per annum, which is at the rate of over five pounds of fish per-anuum for every man, woman, end child. Canada, on the other hand, uses 150 million pounds, or about 25 pounds per head. It will be seen, therefore, that the domestic demand for fish in New Zealand ia not one-fifth of what it ought to bo'wider normal conditions. Fishing Areas Available. Professor Prince estimates that New Zealand possesses about 20,000 square miles of inshore waters 10 to 30 fatlToms deep; about 25,000 square, milos 40 to 50 fathoms deep; and outeide these areas a deeper water area extending ten to twenty miles from shore which descends to 300 and 400 fathoms. At a very moderate estimate the Dominion possesses 50,000 square miles of fishinggrounds available and accessible. The inland or fresh water area is nearly 15,000 squqare miles. There is thus every ground for being optimistic as to the suturo of New Zealand fisheries. Their extent and possibilities, says Professor Princo, have not yet been adequately realised.., The fisheries of a country he regards as a national assot that should be protected and regulated. Hβ thinks fish in New Zealand , should be cheaper so as to encourage a vastly-increased demand, and he believes that a cheapening of such food can be brought about. Some of those interested in the industry, however, do 1106 seem to realise that largo sales and small profits aro preferable to small sales and high profits, and now-a-days, if fishermen have a good haul, great quantities are returned to the ocean in order to keep up the price in the local markets. This makes fish dear and results in groat waste. Ho points out that fish products to the value of £108,185 were imported into New Zealand in 1912. With our superabundance there should bo no need for such an importation of' canned fish. The Dominion, instead of importing, should export fish. He suggests that Now Zealand' should quickly defino territorial limits that she thinks necessary for the preservation of her fisheries, and urges tho advisability of extending it beyond the usual threo-mile limit. Now

Zealand might wisely proclaim a limit of eight or ten miles. There are no countries near to interfere with such a definition. - Acclimatisation of Cams Fish. Referring to Acclimatisation Societies a suggestion is mado for ; the appointment of an Advisory Board proportionate to tlio membership of the societies, such board to work in conjunction with tho Fisheries' Department. Professor Prince gives a roviciv of tha Acclimatisation Societies . which . .demonstrates

pretty clearly that the time has come tor an important change. As regards fisheries ho states . that they are in an anomalous position and have, to a large extent, outlived their original purpose and utility. Hβ however (rives them due credit for the excellent pioneer work w,hich they have- accomplished. ■Hβ is anxious that, the help of tho active enthusiasts in the societies should still bo utilised, and ho believes that such help could be secured, through tho Advisory Board. Survey of Fishing Grounds. -A. systematic survey 01 ilho sea fishing grounds i 3 advocated. Ho had abundant evidence in his cruiso round the Now Zealand shores that there are untried areas open for exploitation, many of which may ho expected to yiold abundant supplies of fine species of food fish. A Dominion patrol system for tho supervision of the fish and fisheries in NW Zealand is necessary, tho. present New Zealand system being inefficient and absurd. Larger (ishinfj craft will be necessary if our fisheries are to be properly exploited. Tho present operations are too Ideal. Tech-

nical instruction to fishermen is advocoted, also the abolition of tho Customs duties on fishermen's gear, and tho fixing. of a size limit for various kinds of fish. State Aid for tho Industry? "It is important," says the professor, "for the future development of the fisheries that bettor facilities for tho cc-ld storage of fish and tho preparation of chilled ajnd diried fish should bo provided. The Dominion of Canada lias found it to be a most valuable aid to the fishing industry to initilate artificial fish-drying establishments on , tho Atlantic coast." In regard to the refrigerators,_ Professor Princo says: "The necessity of providing cold storage for catches of fish, especially when the _ catches are large and vhere is a considerable surplus, requires little argument. There are some less accessible fishing-pprts where initial (cold storage establishments might be started; and I was specially struck by the position, at Half-moon Bay, Stewart Island. At this place a fleet of fishing-boate operates continually, and fine catches of excellent fish' are mado, which for various reasons, such ta bad weather or limitation imposed by the fish merchants, cannot be fully utilised. I had evidence when visiting Stowart Island that very serious waste of fish occurs when large catches are made. This could bo avoided by the erection of a ccld storage establishment in w'hich the fiffo could 'be preserved until the weather or

the market conditions allowed ttheir being sent to the markets. I was also struck by the suitability, of Nelson as a central 'fishing port, and feel convinced that a, well-managed cold storage establishment there would be of great assistance to the fishing fleets which operate in Tasman and Golden Bays and other fine fishing grounds in that, locality." Froezlng Fish. "It is of the highest importance," ho says, "that fish' should not be exposed even for a few hours beyond the timo absolutely unavoidable, as they fall off in condition and lose flavour by such oxposuro. Much of the fish which reaches our markets at present has altogether lost its f rosh and excellont qualities owing to a few hours' exposure on boats, wharves, or steamers; whereas had it b'eon. put into cold storage as soon after capture as possible its condition would have been prime. Tho demand for fish, indeed, is largely influenced by its condition, and the public will not buy fish to such a large extent if it has lost its fresh and sweet qualities by exposure to tho atmosphere and to the sun or by rough handling. By being properly placed in cold storage immediately after capture tho fish retain these qualities for a length of timo. "An impression prevails in. the public mind that frozon fish is very 'inferior to fresh fish, and this opinion is well founded. The method of freezing fish solid so that they resemble a stone or a block of wood is found in tho case of most fisbos to destroy tho flavour nnd tho , texture of the fish to such an extent as..

to make them very inferior for table use. Freezing hard, which is tlie method that has been adopted for a great many years, is a bad method of treating fish. As a man of unusually largo experience in New Zealand remarked, 'Freezing simply spoils fish.' On the other hand, if fish aro placed in crushed ice, especially if wrapped first in clean paper, they will keep for weeks in that clean chilled condition; and that being «o, fish stored in a chilled condition will be found both useful for the tablo as fresh fish or for smoking, especially in the case of blue cod." Unutilised Fishes. Most interesting, but too long to quote, aro Professor Prince's remarks upon our unutilised fishes. It is quite evi-j dent that in time a rich harvest will bo exploited in this direction. The squid and the sea-cucumber even are not to be despised. The former dried would find a market in. China, and the latter as the esteemed trepang would find a ready market in Japan. Over IOiOOO tons of trepang ie shipped from olio port, Hakodate, in the course of the year, the value being over £22,000. The market for our fish both here and abroad could be much improved: Five different methods of putting up fish for the extrort market aro discussed. (1) Dried fish powder. (2) Boneless fish. (3) Salt dried fish. ' (4) Chilled fish; and (5) tinned fieh, fish paste, etc. Recognised agents would need to be appointed in such places as London and Sydney if our fish in various forms is to be successfully marketed in large quantities. Trout and Salmon. The decline in the- size of the trout in our lakes and rivers Professor Prince does not regard ivith any .degree of alarm. Tho fish are now merely assuming their normal weight and .reduced size, but smaller trout are moro desirable as making less demand on the food supply and as affording a considerably larger amount of sport. The brown trout, it is well known, has proved most successful in the southern rivers and lakes, whilo tho rainbow trout lias shown the greatest success in tho waters of the North Island. In both islands

each species has reached a size and weight far in excess nf that reached in its own nativo waters. But it is probable that there is a cyclo in these- matters, and that the trout, which have ak tained an enormous size since their introduction, will now become more red'ueed in dimensions and assume their normal weight and reduced size. As pointed out, this is not to be deplored. A Fisheries Department. Finally Professor Prince strongly urges the necessity for organisation and the establishment of a Fisheries Department. Thero is also, he says, need of more co-operation among the fishermen themselves. A qualified scientific oxpert is a necessary adjunct to the Fisheries. Department, and a marine station similar to tho Otago one should be established in the North Island. The Biological Departments of the four colleges of the New Zealand University should be utilised.