FISH AND THE WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

FISH AND THE WAR.

Fishy mothers of nurseries in the North Saa have had the time of their lives these last two years, but even they are now voicing a protest as to the housing problem. The North Sea abounds with fish at the moment, and whon the war is over it will be absolutely packed. This sounds a sweeping statement, but the fact that the number of trawlers now working is less by some three thousand than it was in peace-time accounts fo: the overcrowded nurseries.

The quantity of fish taken from the North Sea has fallen a third sinee the fishing areas have been so greatly restricted, and the lucky lords of the sea have already had two complete spawning seasons without being raided by the trawlers.

Hadocks have particularly enjoyed the rest they deserved, as for the past ten years their numbers have been sad--1,- diminishing—one and a half million cwt. beitig landed in Ejh|gl|and each year —and that they have profited l by their rest cure is shown by the finer, larger specimens that 81*3 now deigning to leave the exciting North Sea waters and come ashore. When it is remembered that each female haddock produces anything up to 800,000 eggs each seaosn, something of 'their increasing numibers may be guessed—although naturally every little haddock does not survive its natural enemies.