THE NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 769, 27 August 1853, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES.

(From the ,c Maori Messenger,” Aug. 25.) Since we last addressed our readers on the subject of the great advantages to be derived from the establishment of Fisheries, as well fof the supplv of the Auckland market, as with a view of curing the fish, and thereby creating a new and profitable article ol ex poi I, we have been instituting diligent enquiries respecting the varieties and character of the fish to be found in our surrounding waters. In tins research, we have been greatly indebted to an intelligent and practical friend, through whom we have already received much valuable information, and have been promised still more. I hat which we have now to lav before our readers, i! it bo, as we have no reason to doubt, perfectly correct, may well be regarded as deeply important intelligence; seeing that it conveys an assurance that Herrings and Cod, the grand staples of the European fish curers, are not only the inhabitants of these seas, but that, in addition to many highly prized fish peculiar to our own waters, many of the most choice fish of the Northern Hemisphere abound. “ With regard to the New Zealand fisheries” writes our informant, “ it has lately been satisfactorily proved that we have numbers of fish hitherto supposed only to inhabit the Northern Hemisphere. “Tbe first in value is the cod. Theseare chiefly to he found in deep water; on banks (fl the coast, and in from forty to seventy fathoms. They arc caught with the hook and line. “The second in importance is the Herring, a shoal of which was recently driven on shore at Mahurangi. They have, likewise, repeatedly been seen in the neighbourhood of k the Great Barrier Island. Herrings are taken with a drift net; the cost of which, in England, would be about 80/. “Again, we have that very delicious fish the sole. These have lately'been seen by

several of our coasters; and have, moreover, ' been discovered inthe stomachs of large fish. The Sole requires to be taken with a trawl net, which in England would cost about 4 01. complete.” The Flounder is also a well known, fine,

and abundant fish; and always in eager demand when brought into the Auckland market. Yet notwithstanding this, its sup-

ply is so capricious that, for months and months together, not a fish of this description is to be found in the hands of the occasional native vendors. By the use of the trawl net, soles, flounders, skate, and other varieties of flat and ground fish might betaken in great abundance; and thus an exceedingly remunerative trade be placed at the command of the native fishermen.

% The John Dory, accounted in England a choice, and rather a high priced fish, abounds. There is, besides, a Black Perch of excellent quality. But although our waters teem with all these good things, still with the exception of odd occasions, the standard fish offered for sale is the dry, insipid, and inferior Snapper.

Oysters, which might easily be laid down

in feeding beds, and there improved and propagated, arc only to be obtained from the rocks. A little industry, and a trifling exertion might insure an unfailing and profitable supply of this choice and highly prized fish. There is another description of shell fish, which is rarely to be procured, and then only at the most extravagant prices. We mean Cray-fish, which, we believe, arc to be found in abundance in the immediate vicinitv

of Auckland. Nothing can be more simple limn the manner of capturing those fish. With a small bag net attached to an iron hoop, and baited with a piece of meat, we have ourselves (elsewhere) caught them with the utmost rapidity. The hoop being lowered, from a boat or vessel, to the bottom of the fishing ground is allowed to remain there forsome time. The Cray-fish attracted by the meat, which is secured to the bottom of the net, crawls into the hoop, and when that is drawn up the bag distends, and the fish finds it impossible to extricate itself from the meshes. Surely a fair supply of this fish should find its way to market, and yield a handsome profit to the native or oilier fishermen who engage in such pursuits ? By all civilised and commercial nations,— especially the English, the American, and the Dutch,—the products of the sea have been accounted fully as important as those of the land; because” they not only afford cheap, nutritious and abundant food to the people, but contribute largely, moreover, to the national resources and to the maintenance of a maritime ascendancy. We are young, in New Zealand, in the

arts and appliances of life. Considering the siiort period that has elapsed, since the incorporation of the European with the Native race, it is only surprising that the latter should have made such extraordinary strides in their energetic and successful adaptation of their Country to the improved systems of European husbandry. With such cheering examples of industry and intelligence everywhere pervading the land, we cannot but feel assured that the question of the New Zealand Fisheries will not long be overlooked. The riches of the sea will eventually engage as anxious a consideration as the riches of the land. It needs but one or two boats crews to make a systematic beginning to prove to the native race the large amount of wealth at present swimming unheeded on their coasts. Once engaged in such pursuits, vve do not doubt that they will be found of so remunerative a character, as to lead to a large and zealous competition. We have been promised from several sources an account of the different descriptions of fish inhabiting these seas, their qualities as articles of food, and their known, or suppositious, value for curing as exports. To any of the readers of this Journal, able and disposed to contribute to our information, we should feel greatly indebted. In the meanwhile, having made mention of several fish of well known value in the annals of commerce, we shall close the present paper, by transcribing a few particulars ol the natural history of the Cod, the first on °nr list, and which vve rejoice to have been told is an inhabitant of our New Zealand waters. The history and properties of the other fish named shall also be given in due lime. The Cod. “ It is almost impossible to estimate too highly the importance of this truly valuable inhabitant of the deep, whether regarded as a upply of food, d source of national industry

and commercial wealih, or as a wonder ol nature in its astonishing fecundity. It resides in immense shoals in the Northern seas, performing various migrations at staled seasons, and visiting in succession the different coasts of Europe and America. Though found in considerable numbers on the coasts of other Northern regions loan extent of about 450 miles of ocean, it is the chill and rugged shores of Newfoundland that is the favourite annual resort of countless multitudes of Cod, which visit the submarine mountains known as the Grand Bank, to feed upon the crnslaccous and molluscous animals abundant in such situations. Hither also Heels of fishermen regularly adventure, sure of winning a rich freight in return for their toils and exposure. In Great Britain the Cfti is taken all round the coast: among the Islands to the North and West of Scotland it is abundant: most extensive fisheries are carried on; and the Cod may be traced as abounding also on the shores of almost every county of Ireland. In Great Britain alone, the Cod in the catching, the curing, the partial consump ion and sale, supplies employment, food, and profit to thousands of the human race.

“The Cod is of a moderately long shape, with the abdomen very thick and prominent; the head is large, as also are the eyes; the jaws of equal length, the lower one bearded at the lip by a single cirrus ; in the jaws and palate are numeroussbarp teeth ; the dorsal and anal fins are rather large, the pectoral and ventral rather small; the tail of moderate size, and even at the end ; the belly tumid and soft, the body tapering gradually throughout the latter half; the upper part of the head, checks, back, and sides, mottled and spotted with dull yellow; the belly while or silvery ; the lateral line while ; all the fins dusky. The Cod sometimes grows to a very large" size. The general size in the British seas is from about fourteen to forty pounds; and such as arc of middling size arc most esteemed for the table.”