Fish And Oysters

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1922, Page 3

Fish And Oysters

MARKETS WELL SUPPLIED. WELLINGTON. Sept 20. Fish were plentiful on must of ilie fishing grounds around the coast ol New Zealand during thee part year, stales the annual report of the Marino Department, and on tile whole the suppuy for the niarkit had been wet! maintained. During the year the Marino Department advanced the sum of £3200 to fishermen for the pun base* of. and for building, new fishing vessels. The advances were made c.n twelve lauuchtn, and the amounts ranged from Cl*2s to £751). The total quantity of fish brought in tmm the fishing grounds during the year was about 203121 ewt. Die wholesale value being about £302.390 15s. The total quantity of oysttvs marketed from the beds, including Foveaux Strait and the northern rock oysters last season, was 31.700 sacks, flic wholesale value of which was £23.10-1. i lie quantity and value ol whale oil and utlu.r products from the whaling stations was 302 tons of oil. 4(1 tons of bonediist. and 7 ewt whalebone, value at £12.003 tlie .total value for Ike year being about £397.503 15s. It would semi, continues tin* report. that oysters wc.ro plentilu! on the different beds in Fovea ux Strait, and tin' quality was excelluit throughout the season. I lie . beds which wen* principally worked were the lluapckc. Bird Island, and West, beds. The inter-colonial steamer service lias been resumed from Bluff during the year, and this has increased the export of fish and oysters to Melbourne. The quantity of oysters taken from the beds last season was 21,GG4 sacks, wholesale value. £15.311. The quantity sold oi rock oysters from the northern beds lor the sea-on "as ■7l(i:i sank-. Of this quantity 31133 came from the Bay of Islands beds. 3537 from the Hauraki Gulf and 59!) from the Great Barrier. During the year the Government bought the freehold of the foreshore of Hawaii Island, and by doing so acquired the only privately owned oyster hod m the Dominion.