HABITS OF SCHNAPPER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 275, 10 February 1928, Page 13

HABITS OF SCHNAPPER

OLD LEGENDS DISPROVED HAURAKI GULF SUPPLY SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION Fishermen’s legeniis that big schnapper eat the smaller ones and that dog fish decimate the ranks of these edible fish seem to be disproved by the investigations of the chief inspector of fisheries, Mr. A. E. Kefford. A SKED if he had come to the conelusion that the Hauraki Gulf was gradually giving out as a fishing ground, Mr. Heffiord said: “One may say definitely that the fish are not as plentiful there as they were a few years ago, but It is impossible that the supplies should ever give out completely. There is a great deal of variation from natural causes, and only years of scientific investigation can give definite infoi mation.” There was a danger, he said, of the balance of fish being destroyed by the catching of one or two varieties exclusively, and once the equilibrium was damagd anything might happen. He emphasised the importance of a marine biological station being set up to study the sea and the life of the sea. Neither in Australia or New Zealand was there an endowed institution which would carry out this work, which was of ihe greatest importance. NEED FOR RESEARCH “Wealthy people who do not know what to do with their money should consider this real need,” he continued. “The fundamental scientific information which cculd be gathered would be available for the solution of- economic and practical problems of this country.” For 12 weeks, Mr. HefL'ord, assisted by Mr. W. M. Young, marine biologist, and Captain Daniel, inspector, have been carrying out their investigations in the Hauraki Gulf, and the work wfill continue for another four weeks. The information gathered points to the fact that the dog-fish is a competitor of the schnapper in that he eats the same food, crabs and shrimps, but that he has no cannibalistic tendencies. It had not been established whether the majority of fish in the Gulf bred there or came in from the open sea. Certainly there was immigration to that ground. Certain schooling grounds were the rendezvous of the schnapper between November and January each year. The Gulf fish collected between Kawau and Tiri and that was the reason the Government forced fishermen to keep outside a line from Kauri Point to Takatu at this time. Whangapua Bay was the schooling ground for the fish from the East Coast group, the Mercury Islands and the back of the Great Barrier. It was also certain that there was a ground in the Bay of Islands, another for the West Coast fish off the Pandora Bank, near Cape Maria, and probably one near the Kaipara Harbour. One of the best methods of finding out the migratory tendencies of the fish was to mark them and let them go. This was being done. Oyster beds were developing in good styl'e, said Mr. Hefford, and the results of the improvement should be seen or tasted in about four years’ time. The experiment of growing oysters on trays was successful so far.