OYSTER BORER

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 5

OYSTER BORER

DEPREDATIONS in AUCKLAND

DISTRICT

AUCKLAND. Oct. 30,

Thousands of oysters in the Auckland district are being destroyed by a borer, the depredations of which are causing Mr A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, great concern. Mr Hefford lias returned to Auckland from a lisit to the oyster grounds of the Bay of Islands, and he said the ravages of the borer were particularly noticeable there The borer ill question is a small shellfish. It attaches itself to the oyster, and with its sharp tongue borqs through the shell of the oyster, apparently paralysing the fish in the process. The borer then cats the oyster. “There seem to he countless oysters affected by the borer, which T regard as a serious menace to the supply,'’ Mr Hefford stated. “This borer is present in the Hauraki Gulf, at Maliu-

nuigi. Kawau Island, and in other places where the oysters gro". Some of the money granted for the work of cultivation of oysters would he utilised in getting rid of the borer. Mr Hefford said. Aren were now employed going round the beds and picking the borer from the shell of the oyster. Tt was very important that this work should ho done no", because Captain Daniel had discovered that now was the spawning time of the borer, and the spreading of it could lie prevented by destroying the borei already attached to the oysters.