TRAWLING INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1919, Page 1

TRAWLING INDUSTRY.

REPORT OF COMMISSION

Wellington, June 25

Several matters ofgeneral in'crest are dealt with in the repo:t of the Commission set up to consider questions relative to the fish-trawl-ing industry in the H utraki Gulf. The Commission comprised .Messrs E. C. Cutiten, S.M. (chairman), J. IT. Braducy, and Thomas 1/mg. After hearing nil the evidence, the Commission recommended slight alterations in the trawling limits, the new line to he from Mahurangi Heads to Shearer rocks, off the north east point of Tiri Tiri, and thence to Cabbage Bay. No alteration is recommended in the regulations dealing with the size of the mesh in trawl nets. To increase the mesh would certainly not altogether stop the l iking of some of the undersized fish, and would probably result in the loss ot a considerable number of fish of marketable size. “ Members of the Commission were struck by the diversity of opinion expressed and the absence of reliable information with respect to the habit of schnapper and other iish common to these northern waters,” the report states, “They beg to recommend, for the-consider-ation of the Government, the provision of a iish butchery in the Auckland district on lines similar to those already in existence at Portobello, near Dunedin. At the present time, part of the fishing interests of the Dominion come under the control o’ the Minister in-Charge ol the Tourist Department, and part under the control of the Minister of Marine. The desire was expressed by some ol the witnesses before the Commission that all these interests should be brought under one Minister. Having regard j to the importance which the fishing j industry should attain in New Zea- j land and to the wonderlul resources j of the Dominion in the matter, this j does appear to the Commission to ] be advisable, if there are no serious j departmental difficulties in the j way.” I