OUR FISHERIES.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2763, 26 December 1871, Page 2

OUR FISHERIES.

(From the Lyttelton Times.) The evidence collected by the joint Committee of both Houses of Assembly on colonial industries is extremely valuable in many respects, and no part of it more so than that which relates to fisheries. The princip.il witness examined by the Committee on the subject of fisheries, was Mr Liardet, of Wellington. It appears that he is engaged in fish curing at Island Bay, in Cook Strait, and that he has prosecuted the industry for about twelve months with success. “I discovered one day,” he remarks in his evidence, “ that a very fine fiish, the mold, exists there in very large quantities, and, knowing the enormous demand for cured fish in the Australian colonies, 1 was induced to purchase some nets, and test the quality and quantity of the fish, and to ascertain what was curable, and what was suitable for the market.” Mr Liardet’s operations seem to have been in every way satisfactory, alike to himself and those who purchased his fish. During last year, with only a small dingy and two men to assist him, he caught 2800 fish, and had to contend with very bad weather. The quantity named was caught in five or six months, with nets and hand lines; and it was ascertained that the fish most abundant on the coast were whariau, moki, butter-fish, hapuka, ling, king-fish, and rock cod. The butter-fish and rock cod are specially commended by Mr Liardet as “ splendid fish for curing and he also mentions a pink cod, ‘ 1 which is the same as they are curing at Dunedin, and which they call the ‘ Finuon haddock.’” Besides ascertaining the principal varieties, with their special qualities, Mr Liardet appears to have found out when they can be caught in the greatest number, and at what season of the year. All these, it is hardly necessary to say, are steps in the right direction, and constitute precisely the kind of knowledge so much required. It will be asked what results, in a pecuniary point of view, have attended Mr Liardet’s labors ? In a word, has the enterprise paid, and is there a reasonable prospect that it would yield a fair return for capital if carried on systematically on a large scale ? Mr Liardet is evidently satisfied with his profits and prospects, and that in itself is an assurance which carries a great deal of weight. When he first commenced to cure the fish and send them to Wellington, the people would not buy them. He discovered that the fishermen had been in the habit of only salting the fish, and that consequently they did not keep. Now, ho observes, “I have made a name for the fish in Wellington, and they will sell faster than I can supply them. 1 get fifteen and sixteen shillings a dozen for them.” Again, when asked whether his principal market was Melbourne, he replied that he had only sent samples there as yet. He had received a letter from a very large fish buyer in Melbourne, who had seen the samples, asking him to send a supply and offering fifteen shillings per dozen. This price, he was sure, would “pay handsomely.” The fish had also been taken to Sydney, where they were much liked, and the captain of a collier had kept some on board his vessel for two months, “at the expiration of which time they were as good as when first packed. Mr Liardet’s evidence is supplemented by very interesting memoranda on 'fisheries from Mr Creighton and Mr J. Munro, Auckland members of the House of Representatives. From Mr Creighton s memorandum we learn that fishing stations have been established at Wnrgarei Heads and Waipu by Messrs M'Leod and Perston. The plan on which they propose to carry on operations is similar to that pursued in the North American provinces, and to a certain extent in Great Britain—they guarantee to buy all cured fish brought to them at a fixed rate per cental, 'ihe fishermen, remarks Mr Creighton, understand this system, and as it secures them a steady home market, without fluctuation in price, it appears to be the very best that could be adopted. Many of the settlers at Wangarei Heads and Waipu are experienced Nova Scotia fisherman, and the project lias lieeu eagerly taken up with every chance of a successul issue. From the evidence of certain Auckland merchants, and the concurrent testimony of others examined before a Select Committe of the Provincial Council on fisheries, it appears that fii addition to the Australian demand, the Easterly

countries generally are open to exporters of cured fish. Batavia and Mauritius w> r specially mentioned, but wherever Coolie labor is employed there is a demand for the article. Mr Munro is very emphatic indeed on the quality and quantity of New Zealand fish, and seeing that he has had .American experience his evidence is valuable. He speaks of “ the delicious mullet and the royal hapuka,” also the snapper, “next in quality to the North American codfish.” Mr Munro evidently believes in the value of our coastal fisheries as a source of national wealth. “Ido not believe,” he observes, “but I know, that there is an inexhaustible source of national wealth around the shores of New Zealand, as far as I have seen of it, swarming unmolested round our shores and the islands and on sunken rocks not yet discovered. These will yet be a profitable resort for the laborious fisherman, ami contribute largely to the aggregate prosperity of the country. In my own humble view our jwesent mineral wealth is nothing to what it will be in time to come, yet I believe that the fisheries of t'.iis country will surpass it in wealth, permanency, and stability.” The hero is a little rough and involved, but there can be no doubt whatever about the moaning—Mr Munro has a deep and abiding faith in the extent and value of our coastal fisheries, and a firm belief in the industry as a profitable investment for capital. He points out a few drawbacks, such as the high price of salt and the comparatively heavy duties levied on fishermen’s necessaries. But there is no reason why we should not make our own salt, and the duties he refers to might be judiciously eased off. Facilities should also be offered to fisherman in the way of acquiring small holdings at points on the coast suitable for the trade, and every inducement ought to be held out in order to develop an industry which gives such substantial hopes of ultimate success.