OYSTER SALES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1932, Page 8

OYSTER SALES

CITY RETAIL STOPPED. PROTEST AGAINST CONDITION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. People who purchased oysters on Saturday ' -were fortunate for they "secured the last that will be available in the City for a fortnight, as from Friday last:' Christchurch fishmongers have; decided that, as supplies have not been arriving up to expectations, there will be no more importations from; Bluff' for the period stated. While One man in the fish business was reluctant to discuss the situation yesterday, another stated' that the oyter® had been arriving in Christchurch in- a very bad condition. Out of two or three dozen' opened, only two or three were sateame, find the move on the part of the fishmongers was a form ofi protest. Those sold on Saturday were the pick of the ■stocks, and the remainder ' of sacks 01 oysters which arrived in a very dry state: 1 -

It • wus explained that the oyster boats had a three or four hours’ sail before the beds were reached, and apparently the. ships had’ brought in too heavy cargoes, with ■ the result that the surplus had been off the beds too long. It would mean a-loss of £8 ' a ’ week to the average fish shop, and the railways would also have to suffer .loss. , ‘ The average shop, it appears, sells ten sacks a week, while the big establishmefits :■ get through 20. Approximately : .250 sacks, Weighing in o' l about 22 tons, arrive in a week, the consignments reaching the City on Mondays. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. • “The position simply is that the oystefis have been arriving here man unsaleable condition, and the decision not to sell can be taken as a form 01 protest,” addl'd the retailer.