N.Z. FISHERIES CONSERVATION BILL

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1948, Page 4

N.Z. FISHERIES CONSERVATION BILL

Was Jackson’s Bay Catch Too Large ? P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 10 In the House, Hon. F, Hackett moved the second reading of the Fisheries Amendment Bill. He said the measure contained many provisions which the Marine and Internal Affairs Departments had desired for a number of years, and it corrected a number of anomalies. A serious view was taken of the activities of poachers, ana the penalty for Preaches had been increased from one hundred to nve hundred pounds. KEEPING UP PRICES Another clause widened the definition of persons who could be prosecuted for destroying edible fish. There had been many cases in the past, said the Minister, where edible fish had been destroyed in order to keep up the price. Mr Hackett said a great deal of help had been received from Acclimatisation Societies in the preparation oi Part Two of the Bill, which concerned fresh water fisheries, and he hau received a number of letters from various organisations “blessing the bil; and thanking • the Government for bringing it down.” Mr T. L. MacDonald (Nat., Wallace') said that anything relating to the regulation, of the fishing industry would be regarded with widespread interest. The points which the Minister had mentioned would not arouse any degree of argument from the Opposition. The main purpose of the Bill was to tighten up the regulations, so that they could be enforced. Steps taken to preserve trout and salmon fishing would be welcomed. “One thing the Bill does not do in regard to sea fisheries is to make a greater supply of fish available to the public.” said Mr MacDonald. He urged the department to survey the present fishing grounds, and develop new grounds. He considered that expansion of the fishing industry into the southern areas would result in more fish for local consumption as well as for export. Mr Shand (Nat. Marlborough) caused derisive laughter when he referred to days when in Marlborough Sounds, holiday makers could catch fish “five on a line.” Now they were lucky to catch two at once. Mr W. J. Broadfoot urged greater use of the quick freezing process, which, he said, preserved the flavour of fish better than older methods of freezing. Mr A. Murdoch (Nat., Marsden), advocated cultivation of oysters on sticks in suitable harhour waters. Hon. W. G. Parry said that fish did not remain on spawning grounds all the year round, and if it was decided to protect breeding grounds, there would also have to be found some way of protecting fishing on their return to spawning grounds. The only way that could be done would be to give the fish a closed season. He predicted that, unless schnapper and cod received some protection, they would disappear, as other varieties of New Zealand fish had. “The recent catch of two tons of crayfish at Jackson’s Bay had destroyed millions of potential fish,” continued the Minister, “and yet that was permitted, and still we growl at a shortage of fish.” ~ . Mr Hackett, in reply, said it was obvious that there was a great deal of interest in the fishing industry in New Zealand. Extremely little was known about fish. and he had yet to learn how to tell the age of a crayfish. He wanted to have specialists in all varieties of New Zealand fish. The Minister said he was confident the Bill would do much to conserve and improve the Dominion’s fish supplies. The Bill was read the second time.