FISH SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 250, 16 July 1919, Page 8

FISH SUPPLY

PROPOSALS OF THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT BY MINISTER , The Minister of Marine (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) made a statement yesterday regarding the fish industry, and the proposals of his Department for increasing the supply of fish to the people of the Dominion.

He said he felt it was the duty of the Department to give every possible assistance in increasing the supply of fish to the people of the Dominion. He was satisfied that tho fisheries were capable of producing a very .large supply of necessary food, and special attention and assistance should be to the industry at the present time, As with the development of all industries, Government monetary aid was required, and every encouragement should lie given to fishermen and others employed in connection with the industry; He proposed to recommend to the Government that advances should be made io fishermen for the purchase of suitable boats and fishing outfits; that the State Eire Insurance Should proflide cover against loss or damage to fishermen's boats; that the erection of fish chilling and icoinaking plants in outlying parts of tho coast should be provided to prevent the loss of fish during warm weather, and to ensure all fish reaching the market in fresh condition; that fishermen should be encouraged to go in for purse-sein-ing, by which fish could be taken .in large quantities and at small cost, in comparison with trawling. iHe proposed also to suggest a bonus/on fish canned and cured for export and. on the pioiduction of a fertiliser made from fish offal and unmarketable fish, and that the Government take steps further to provide the necessary supplies of benzine, lubricating oils, nets, netting/ twine, hooks, lines, etc., which are ren'uived by those engaged in the fishing industry. ■' Govarnment Aid. "In respect of the latter suggestion," said the Minister, "the Government has already authorised me to . forward to England an order for worth of nets, in order that some immediate relife should be given to those in the inMr. Ayson's report and valuable suggestions are made' the basis of this action. With the question i.f to the fishing industry the question of transport and marketing is . most important, so thnt not only people in the cities, but also those in the.inla.nd tewns and .country districts, should be eupnlied. ' With regard to the '.lntnsport of fish, even in normal tirne.s, facilities provided in our railways have not been anything like sufficient, • and freight charges, particularly for. quantities in iwo-tnn lots nre considered by consignors to be far too high; Mr. Ayson suggests that improvements are required in the present methods of. cleaning and packing fish for transport. j Other Suggestions. "There has been a great deal of discussion in the papers lately in reference to the Government undertaking the catching and marketing of fish. The Minister 6aid that he believed that if tho Government would give effect to the recommendations made by Mr. Ayson in his last annual report it would mean a considerable increase in tho number of fishermen and largor boats and mors "up-to-date gear. The New South Wales Government State fishing: and marketing had been in operation for about, three years, and the Queensland Government had within the last two years gone in for State marketing of all fish caught" by fishermen. While it appears from the reports that the New South Wales experiment has resulted in a considerable loss for the first year or so, the Government is still persevering with the work, and it is claimed that as the result-of the operations, Sydney, its suburbs, and inland townships throughout the State mo getting a better supply of perfeotly fresh fish and at p. lower price than .-before. Of course, in Australia, on account ot the warm olimate, -special attention has to bo paid to tho conveyance of fish by railway, and these methods ' I propose, having investigated.

Oyster Culture. "Another matter on which detailed information is required from New South Walos is .their method of artificial oyster cultivation, .which is worked on similar lines to that of America, Prance, and England." The Minister said that In the report of the fisheries' of New South Wales for 191G the value of oysters marketed was ,£sß,ofio, and during the year ■(•90 applications for oyster culture leases were received for areas: totalling 132,089 yards of foreshore and 226 acres with n& foreshore . front, and mostly in deep water. At the end of tha't year there wcro 2971) leases in existence, and the total area under lease, aggregated 925,821 yards of foreshore, which : foreshore was formerly barren so far asf'oysters were concerned. This is now productive en. tirely "by artificial cultivation, i The rentals paid on theso oyster leases in 1916 amounted to over ,£6OOO. Mr. Ayson sees no reason why similar methods should not be adopted in • this country with equally good results. The Minister said it might also be the means of providing profitable employment for those •returned soldiers who would care for the occupation. "I propose to instruct Mr. Ayson to visit* New South Wales and Queensland for the purpose of personally observing the State and other methods of fishing, packing, transportation, and' the conveyance inland by railway: and also studying and obtaining first-hand detailed information and plans as to the method of artificial oyster culture. "It is only another instance." the' Minister concluded, "of the fact, that individualistic effort has to be superseded by methods which will provide for community necessity."