HERRINGS IN N.Z. WATERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 747, 21 August 1929, Page 8

HERRINGS IN N.Z. WATERS

Sir, — It is not generally known that the j common Dnglish herring (“Clupea harengus”) is indigenous to New Zealand waters. In the month of February. 1919, I received from Captain John Freeland, master of the City Couneil’s trawler Cowan, nine herring, which -W'ere taken about two miles north of Tiri. They averaged from Sin to a foot in length, and were taken in the trawl net. Captain Freeland’s wife was present when he gave them to mo, and holding one in her hand she made the following remarks:—“Look at the sides of the fish and you see the fisherman’s net”—and turning it over and pointing to the brain cavity—“ There is his boat. I have seen millions of them in Aberdeen. Those are the real Scots herring. ’ I examined them most carefully and found the scales were deciduous, also that the dorsal fin was behind the centre of gravity, which is the distinction between the herring and pilchard. If the herring is held by the dorsal fin the head will dip, whereas the head of the pilchard will remain horizontal. They were of a darkish green on the back, and had silvery bellies and sides. When grilled over a low fire the tat or oil caused file fire to flare. It was the intention ot Captain Freeland and myself to procure a. set of herring nets from Scotland to try the fishery and ascertain if it was a paying proposition, and we sent to his brother to forward nets to New Zealand. Owing to the war these were too costly to procure, and shortly after-

ward Captain Freeland, who had an old herring drifter fishing ou Aberdeen, died, and the herrtnS present remain uncaught. J. P. benxb tt ex-inspector Sea Fishery Point Chsyaligi-.