THE PRICE OF FISH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 8

THE PRICE OF FISH

Sir,—So at last the public are beginning to find out about the price of'the above, and I do not wonder ati it.. 1 ask straight out, what is the good of tho Board of Trade? I think this is what it is called. If I am wrong, I mean that lot of swells who are supposed to look alter' the interests of the community for the purpose of checking the extortion that is guing on with regard' to the priccs of food, etc. What do tiie general public care an to whether the prices of swell dresses, underclothing, or want of it, go up Let tho rich pay. But let the supposed "checkers" keep down the prices of all essential articles of clothing to tho ordinary rim of individuals. The prices of certain articles of food, such as <.egebables, fruit, butter, cheese, meat—theeo are what should be looked into. Now, as' to fish. It is simply scandalous. Tako the price, for hapuka. one of the commonest and coarsest'lieh m the sea—it fish that can be caught by the ton, and tho catchers, if paid five shillings each, would soon become of the "bong tong." I kiloiv of places not far oft' the coast wluire this fish can be caught by the ton. A mqtor launch and a couple of men could catch at least JU fish in u day, and if they got ss;-each-for them would do well. This lisli is now being retailed at Is. per lb. of the fish weight from 20 to 401b. taking a fish at 201l>. means retailed 205., a profit of 15s. If it weighs 101b., there is a profit of 355. Tho above are cleaned and ready for market, and weigh the above. . „, ; r Of course the choicer ilsli, such as soles flounders, butterfish, nre also dear, but 'not in comparison to 'hapuka or schnapper.—l am,- etc., REDUCIi THE PRICE. ' Septemlicr 3b, 1919.