FROZEN EELS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1931, Page 3

FROZEN EELS

LIKELY MARKET IN BRITAIN. AN EXPERIMENTAL CATCH. “Many attempts liave been made to utilise the .large supplies of freshwater eels in the Lakes and rivers tlnoughout the Dominion,” states the annual report of the Repartment of Industries and Commerce. “The best market for these is thought to he the United Kingdom, where large supplies of live eels are received from the Continent.”

The report states that several shipments of frozen eels were made from the Dominion during recent years, but the results obtained were not entirely satisfactory. In order to investigate the possibilities of landing frozen eels in London in good market condition a committee consisting of the chief inspector of fisheries, the Dominion analyst, and a representative of the Department of Industries and Commerce was appointed to carry out research work in this connection.

After reviewing the various methods used in catching, cleaning, freezing, and packing the eels shipped on previous occasions, the committee arranged with a Wairarapa syndicate to catch a quantity of eels, and these were prepared at Lake Wairarapa under the supervision of the fisheries branch of the Marine Department and sent to cold store in Wellington by motor. These eels were treated in three different ways, and frozen at the lowest temperature available and held in cold storage pending shipment. The report received from London regarding the condition of the eels on arrival was satisfactory as to the eels prepared in one particular way, and the defects pointed out in the others will be guarded against in subsequent shipments.

The value placed on the consignment in London was from Gd to 7d per pound. This was not considered sufficient bv the syndicate concerned to justify a continuance of shipments ot eels at the present time. The decision was also influenced by the fact that the market requires eels not exceeding one pound in weight, which are difficult to procure during the winter season.