Flounders.

Manawatu Herald, 24 April 1902, Page 3

Flounders.

DEPICTION OF SUPPLIES

Whether trawling is or is not the s&use of the shortage in the favourite •ating flab, the flounder, that shortage is actively impressing itself on the people of Wellington, and is a Ih&tter that teems likely to come more and more into evidence. In Auckland, there is a falling off in both snapper and flounder; elsewhere, in flounder. Of other fish, particularly warehou, Wellington has an abundant local supply, and the leeal fishermen haw exported a large Quantity of vrarehou, estimated roughly at three or four tons to Sydney. during the last six months. But for flounder Wellington is dependent on Hawke’s . Bay, on the Wes* Coast (Foxton) fisheries, and on the Sounds. The supply from these places, particularly from Hawkes Bay, has largely fallen off; the Hauraki Gulf can hardly supply Auckland wants, and has no surplus ; and the local price of flounder has risen 60 per cent., while there are times when the fish cannot be got. Mr H. Palmar, of this city, who ■applies the basis of the above facts, states that the Sounds now send about hall the flounder received at ■Wellington, and all the really good fish come from there. Foxton sends about a third; the local catch is both ■mall end poor; and Hawkes Bay sends the balance. In the open market here, on Thursday morning upwards «f a hundred dozen sold at 2a 4d for three flounders. For the decrease in the supply he blames the trawl, the beam of which stirs up the mud, and young fish enclosed in the set ate suffocated through the muddiness of the water, even if the mesh happens to he big enough to allow their ultimate escape. He thinks fo the present state of depletion

a tax should be imposed to prevent the export of frozen flounders from Napier via Wellington to Sydney. High prices are obtainable in Sydney, and the exporter sometimes finds it more profitable to sell at a fixed price to the Fresh Food and Ice Companies, freeing himself of trade risks, than to supply the local market.— Post.