Westland's Whitebait Industry.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 October 1913, Page 4

Westland's Whitebait Industry.

As showing llit 1 importance of (lie wli iteba il indusl ry in this ill'sj I (sa.ys tlii.' West Const Times). I ti may I>c mentioned that durin<.»; the hist lwo d;iys M r-J. Steer, who has erected a fanning factory at Coliden, brought approximately •">OO tins (kerosene tins) of the little denizens oi' (he deep, which, at the rate of 12s per tin, represented £180 in purchase money. As there are two (.'aiming factories in _ Grey mouth, it may be fairly est una ted that from the factories in Greymouth, it may he fairly estimated that from the factories alone close on £4000 has been paid I out to fishermen. Recently some forty tins of the finny tribe wore brought to town by a Ilokitika train, consigned to the canning works, which employ a good number of hands and have been working at high pros sure during the past few days. As regards the' earnings of individuals who do the netting, it was stated to our reporter that one fisherman had netted £11 and £12 respectively for two j days, but tin's average ,of course, cannot be spread over any lengthy period, for there are days when the sea is high and the river in flood: (hen there is a dearth of fish, and, instead of pounds, tin 4 earnings of the individual nets may be accounted for in pence.