WHERE EELS ARE A LUXURY.

Shannon News, 22 July 1927, Page 3

WHERE EELS ARE A LUXURY.

DEMAND FOR THE SILVER VARIETY. * LONDON, June 4

Mr L. O. 11. Tripp (Wellington) arrived at Liverpool by the Laconia, hav-, mg spent a few weeks in the U.S.A. .When at Washington lie called on the Bureau of Fisheries and met, the assist, ant commissioner and several of the officers of that department. He found everyone most anxious to give any information. Mr Tripp was.very much impressed with the work that is being done in the United States in connection with salt and fresh water fisheries, both scientific and otherwise.

It was suggested by the assistant commissioner that, as there is a demand for eels in Europe, it might be worth considering whether New Zealand could not export eels and establish a new industry. Tlie commissioner advised Mr Tripp to call on Mr HarcTen Taylor, of New York, the vice-president of the Atlantic Fisheries Company, which, as one branch of its business, exports eels to Europe. . Accordingly, Mr Tripp, when in New York, called on Mr Taylor, who also was" only too glad to give him any information. Mr Taylor said that his company captures large numbers of eels aiid' sells them on the Continent, where they are considered a great luxuryt Germany is their best market, but as times are not too good in Germany just now there is not any great demand for eels. When times are more prosperous, however, there would no doubt be a good demand. The best eels for the market, Mr Taylor said, are those from three to five pounds silver eels. His company catches very large numbers in' baskets when they are on their way to the sea,, particularly in -the St. Lawrence country.- Mr Taylor said that the eels there migrate as a rule from Sempember 20 and' October 20, and it is between those dates that most are got by his company. Mr Taylor also informed Mr Tripo that it was very interesting to find that as a rule in America the male eels do not go up the rivers, and when the breeding time comes the females come down the river, meet the males at the mouths of the rivers and then go out to sea, where the young are born.