THE FIRST WHITEBAIT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 4

THE FIRST WHITEBAIT

Small Supply on Sale in Hastings SEUING AT 6/- A LB. The second week of the whitebait season ended to-day with aupplies still scarce. The first whitebait of the season appeared on sale in Hastings shops this morning, but the supplies available were extremely small and were selling at 8/- % lb. To-day supplies were the result of a small catch at Clive yesterday afternoon, but reports indicate that the catch to-day was poorer. One Hastings fishmonger told a reporter thas morning that a Palmerston North firm had asked hiwi to pend a supply of whitebait entirely regardless of price. The demand could not° be supplied, but this certainly gives a good indication of the scarcity in some parts of the oountry and the phenomenally high price that may be expected for some time yet. As yet no whitebait whatever have been taken from the Manawata ri ver, which is ueually a profitable source. The pnoe in Hastings this morning is considerably higher than that ruliiig at the opening oi last season even, and last year there was an exceptional scarcity. The rivers have been in a muddy state jn all parts of the country following heavy rain since the opsning of the present season, and it is to this that the poor catches can be attributed. Some of the rivers, particularly in the Manawatu, have had snow water running into them, aud this also has kept the whitebait away. If the break in tbe weather noticeable to-day continues for any length of time it iB possible that more supplieB will come to hiand, with a corresponding decrease in price, but the weather is still uncertain and doubtless it will be some time before the delicacy is brought within the reach of the average householder.