CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3965, 6 July 1929, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

(■To the Editor). Sir, —Further to my letter of l'ec. nt date re the closing of the drain at Manawatu Heads for the purpose of preserving the whitebait, 1 now submit a tally of whitebait exported from Foxton by me from 1921 to 1929. The figures-’ are as follows 1921: SO tins; 1022: 133 tins: 1923: 190 tins; 1924: 96 tins; 1925: 106 tins; 1926: 201 tins; 1927: 190 tins and i6O by other buyers; 1928: 150 and 100 by other buyers. The reason for the scarcity of whitebait in 1924 was that the Maoris netted the inanga, which I mentioned in my previous letter. In my opinion there would have been over 390 tins of whitebait exported this season, if there had been no poaching or catching of inanga. A good deal of inanga catching has been indulged in since last season and this is bound to have a very detrimental effect on the ’bait this season. If a farmer c. mmenlces killing liis lambs and sheep he will soon have no stock and this applies equally in the whitebait industry. For the whole of the three years previous to 1921 the total number of tins of whitebait exported from Foxton did not exceed 100 tins. I think it will be agreed that the statistics produced herewith ajre good aud sufficient reason for the retaining of the present restriction governing the drain. —Yours, etc. H. ANDRESEN.