Herring Season the Best for Many Years

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 42, 19 February 1937, Page 3

Herring Season the Best for Many Years

GOOD AVERAGE EARNINGS. The autumn herring voyage in which about 800 English and Scottish drifted have been engaged has been the best experienced by tho catching side of the industry for several years. This is the most important voyage of the year, aDd until a few years ago Yarmouth and Lowestoft boatowuers and fishermen could generally count upon its success, even, though other ventures of the year might fail, as they often did. In recent times, however, owing to the partial collapse of the export trade, even 4he autumn voyage had ceased to be profitable. The present year has witnessed a considerable improvement. There has been a keen demand from the Continent, and, mainly as a result of tho advertising campaign of the Herring Industry Board, larger quantities of herrings have been absorbed by tho home market. But whatever possibilities of growth tho home market may hold, the herring industry depends at present almost entirely on its export trade, and the activities of the curcrs and the Klondykers (exporters of fresh herrings) have brought to Lowestoft and Yarmouth, at any rate for one short season, a welcome return of prosperity. The quantity of herrings landed at tho two ports during tho period from September 1 to December 12 was 554,569 crans. This is an increase of 6500 crans above last year’s total. The value of tho catch was £861,239, an increase of £259,295 over last year’s figure. The average price at Lowestoft has been 31/6 per cran, against 22/8 last year, and at Yarmouth 30/S, against 21/6. It is estimated that the average earnings of tho English drifters amounted to about £ISOO per boat, which means that thousands of fishermen and their families had a happier Christmas than they had had for several years. Tho results would have been even better but for the bad weather during 1 the latter half of the season, when fishing was much interfered with by a record succession of gales which. took a grievous toll in lives, nets and fishing gear.