GOVERNMENT TRAWLING EXPERIMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2106, 14 June 1907, Page 4

GOVERNMENT TRAWLING EXPERIMENTS.

There appears to bo an erroneous impression amongst Wellington fish'ermen in regard to tho cost of tho proposed trawling experiments to ho carried out by the Nora Niven (says tho Now Zealand Times). The cost of this vessel so far to the owners is £10,600. Although tho contract price for her building was very much less than that amount, it involved an expenditure of £I7OO to equip her and bring tho steamer to New Zealand, and an additional £I4OO to lit her with refrigerating machinery. There was an item of £2500 on last year’s Estimates for trawling experiments, but it expected that only /a(boijtl £IOOO of this sum will bo required to moot the expenses of the experiments. The Nora Niven’s work will also include testing for oyster beds in tlio' route proposed to be covered.“l have very great hopes of the success of this mission,” remarked flic Minister of Marino to a Times reporter. “I anticipate that dufliciont fishing bods will bo discovered to make that industry ouo of the most prosperous in the colony. There is an unlimited market in Australia for our fish if wo can only got regular supplies. Tlio Nora Nivon will undertake experiments never before attempted in these waters, going out as far as 80 miles) from land. Tho cliartor is for three months, with the right of extension for another three months if required. The fish she takes during theso operations will bo sold by the Government to the owners at tho market value, I think I am safe in saying that not mpre than £IOOO of the subsidy will bo required.” The Nora Niven, in charge of Captain McAlister, will go straight from Wellington to Stewart Island, thence working the east coasts of both islands, and also taking in the Chatham Island route before completing her work.