CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1929, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

WHITEBAIT. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Once more, we see an agitation being made to interfere with the whitebait industry and in this last report we noticed that,Mr Uelford. the Government Officer in Charge of Fisheries, had stated that he also was in favour of restrictions on the industry. It is' always the Acclimatisation Societies that push forward these agitations because a shortage of trout interferes with their pleasures and they believe that whitebait should he used as fend for trout.

They are probably not aware that the whitebait industry is a very large thing in Now Zealand though it is likely that they would sacrifice any industry if it stood in their way. Our part in the industry is quit'* a small part lmt the industry itself is of enormous importance to your district and wo would be glad to see von take the matter up.

AVo hear a lot about whitebait fishing dying out, hut tho year before last was one of the largest years we ever had. It would he much more sensible if .the whitebait fishers ngitated for the cessation of the importation of trout ova.

The Fisheries Department has this country thousands ol pounds sterling for years and years and though it has been unsuccessful in introducing salmon in any* payable quantity in thirty years-—it still keeps on because, as soon as the Department says that the jqb is impossible—so soon will it he realised that their salaries are only an unnecessary drag on the country.

AVe are, etc., St. George Company, Limited, J. R.. STEVENSON, Director Dunedin, June 14, 1929.