A GLUT OF FISH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2147, 8 July 1920, Page 4

A GLUT OF FISH.

Heavy catches of mackerel werereported a couple of months ago, and at the Billingsgate market on March 22nd there were nearly 8,000 packages of this variety of fish. Besides the Penzance fleet of luggers and motor boats, there were nearly 100 steam drifters from east coast ports engaged on the mackerel fishing out of Newlyn. They fell in with a gigantic school of fish, and the result; was that the port of Newlyn had landings unprecedented. Upwards of two and a-half million of splendid fish were landed in two days. On the first the earlier arrivals were fortunate to get a sovereign for 120, but later boats had to accept 7s fid. The great haul was not made without loss, and many boats lost nets sunk by the weight: of fish. On the second day, after 33 drifters had each brought in an average of 30,000 fish, the price ruled at about 5s for 120, as the merchants had in many instances enormous supplies on their hands. The distributing merchants’s resources were taxed to the utmost by the unexpected arrivals, and'the railway authorities were especially handicapped. They managed, however, to despatch hundreds of tons. On the second day trade was to an extent held up, and, had there been a repetition for a day of anything like the two previous days’ landings, there would have been no alternative but to have wasted thousands of fish. Wisely, however, the fishermen decided to remain in port, and this cased the market, but the decision was only generally observed for one night, and then 20 drifters raced off to the grounds again, but did not strike the great school off the Wolf, and, fortunately for the trade, they came back on Saturday morning with only light fishing.