CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1927, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

WHITEBAIT. (To the Editor of the Christchurch " Press.”) Sir,—ln to-day’s issue is an article with the headlines—“ Whitebait.—He- 1 port of Research Committee. —Not Yearly Decrease.” The report has yet | to he' considered by the Westland Aci'iniatisation Society, for whom it was prepared, hut since it lias already been published, attention must he drawn at once to the misleading statements which it contains. The title “ Research Committee,” sounds promising, hut before the public can he expected to take any notice ol its findings, it is necessary to know something concerning the personnel of the committee, their qualifications, as research workers, and their connexion, if any. with the whitebait fanning industry. All that we have been told so far is that they are ” the most experienced whitebait fishermen in WestInnd," which no doubt means that they ate closely concerned in the canning industry; there is no indication of disinterestedness, or that they include, for example, representatives ol the Acclimatisation Society or Marine Department. or that they have carried out anv genuine research on this or any other matter. The Acclimatisation Soeiely will recognise this, ol course, when it considers the report, hut in the meantime, attention must be drawn to the position, ol course, the heads of the canning industry have every right to make representations to the Society, hut it is misleading to cal? them tt research committee, if. as may very well he the ease, they are voicing their opinions and desires without subjecting their contentions to genuine research.

Although it is easy to understand why such n committee should combat the proposal to introduce n restriction in the seuson (luring which whitehait may lie taken, it is almost incredible that they should try to use some of the arguments they have brought lorward. The central problem is whether there has or has not been a decrease in the whitehait. and whether that decrease has been due to the intensive fishing. If there' lias been such a decrease, then a restriction of the season is necessary. and is in the best interests ol the general public, and —il they would only realise it—ol those concerned with the canning industry. The committee state expressly that “ there is no decrease in the runs of whitehait." In the oi'd days, the whitehait used to lie carted mit on to the fields by the ton for manure ; at the present time, it is only rarely that whitehait can he bought for less than 3s a pound. The so-called research committee (piolos figures to show that the <|tiantities of whitebait taken for a number of years have shown no falling ofl, and they infer that whitebait are therefore as numerous as formerly. The point, of course, is that netting is carried out much more intensively now than formerly. The supply is steadily diminishing. I,nt for a few years—till whitebait is almost exterminated, that is--it will oo possible to keep the annual catch up to j normal' bv increasing the number of : men engaged in the industry. liul j that would give only a false impression ■ of an abundant supply: it is what is happening at the present time, and the need is for an easing oil' to allow the whitebait to recover, rather than still more intensive efforts to net them, the figures quoted in the report, whatever they prove, certainly do not prove what the committee deduces from them. I’crimps, the committee will also furnish figures showing the number of men engaged each year during the same period, so that we can calculate the average catch per man, and find whether it is as constant as they would have ns believe. Wo tire not interested in the total amount that gets into the nets, Imt in the amount that gets into the rivers.

It may be pointed out- that recent development have favoured this more intensive fishing. The prices of the commodity, for example, has risen considerably. The figures quoted in the report. show that in 11)22 Cl would buy 311 b of whitebait, whereas in 1925 tlrq

same amount would buy less than 111 b. That is, in three years the price rose 310 tier cent. This increase in the price is due to various factors, ol which the most important is probably the opening of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel, enabling fresh .supplies from the Coast to be disposed of daily in Christchurch, so that not only the ordinary increase in 11 T<C population hut the accessibility of a new and extensive market have put Iho price up and made it worth while for a far greater number of men to engage in the occupation. The total catch may lie the same, but each man catches considerably loss and gels a considerably belter price for it. Thu committee quote the 1925 catch as proving that there has been no diminution in the supply. Perhaps they will' explain whether it was in 1925 that the canning concerns first sent their boat to invade the last strongholds of the whitebait, the rivers of South Westland, after the supply had been so vastly diminished in the north. If so, perhaps they will also state what catch was secured ny the boat, and explain in what way that extra haul can he used as an argument to show that there is no decrease in the supply.

In view of all the above, it is not necessary to attempt to blow away all the smoke clouds ill the rest ol the report. One point may, however, be noticed. The committee do not know the origin of whitebait, hut apparently suggest that it is the fry of some marine fish ; this, of course, leads to their pi'ea that there is no need to introduce any control of the whitebait season. Hut there is no question about the origin of whitebait, and lias been none for many years, except perhaps among the public, who persist in believing that there is some mystery about it. Whitebait have been captured.and bred in ponds, and have grown into the familiar inanga ; and it is now GO years ago since Professor Powell correctly stated what whitebait were. When a restriction of the whitebait season is introduced, as we may hope will he the case, the public must realise that the measure is in their best interests ; that the aim is to increase the supply and try to got it hack nearer to that of the pre-canning days ; and that it is not wise to live upon one’s capital, especially when the rate of exchange (in the form of monopolies and middlemen) is so unfavourable. —Yours etc., K, W. BItXXETT. Armagh Street, Christchurch. •Tulv Bth.