NEW ZEALAND OYSTER FISHERIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5277, 22 February 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND OYSTER FISHERIES.

• ' (From the Colonies.) We have already l alluded to the important industry awaiting development in the oyster fisheries of Australia, and our attention is now drawn to the oyster beds of New Zealand by the publication of,, an official report oil the condition of the fi-heries off the coast of Stewart Island, which, notwithstanding the adoption of protective measures during the last five years, are reported to be failing off. The oysters found at the Antipodes more nearly resemble the world-famed “ native” of the Thames than any other variety,, and the protection of the beds from 1 exhaustion is therefore a matter’ of more than ordinary importance to the colonies, since, with proper care, their resources might be made available, not only for supplying their own waiits, hut also for compensating in some measure for the extraordina y scarcity of oysters in E gland. Under the present law, certain localities have been set apart and exempted from dredging for a period of five or six years ; and a close time, embracing the months of; December, January, February, and March, during which the oysters are spatting, has been instituted .throughout the colony. At a public meeting held in Auckland it was i-esolved the Government should he petitioned to alter the close time, and allow the capture and sale of oysters during, the first and last months of that period, the reason for the desired: alteration being the .hardship' which it, was .felt was, inflicted on owners and licensees of oyster beds by the lengthened,prohibition of dredging. Such a ,plea,is a yery. powerful argument in favor of the adoption of additional protective measures ; but the difficulty will not be solved by the in,crease .or;diminution, of the,fen,ce months. Facilities must. be given for the scientific cultivation pf- oyster beds, for providing and stocking suitable . spawning .places, and for the regulation .of the, deep-sea ; grounds. 'With the,, .increased facilities :,fnr the destruction,. and the diminished chances of the natural production, of. the oyster, v the cultivation of this- bivalve is now , reduced as much to a science as farming. ,it is the first step in the right direction to , find that the Colonial Governments are being, aroused to the importance ..of the, industry .which.only needs proper regulation to, flourish round their masts.