OUR FISH INDUSTRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 5

OUR FISH INDUSTRY.

Auckland, April 15. The Union Steamship Company’s steamer Mararoa, which leaves for Sydney this evening, takes from the colony the first shipment of New Zealand frozen fish for the Sydney markets, on behalf of the Sydney Fresh Fish, Food, and Ice Company. Mr E. Ford, the New Zealand representative of the Company, who has for a considerable time past been engaged in endeavours to establish a regular trade in New Zealand frozen fish for his company, has arranged everything in connection with this initial shipment satisfactorily, and the trial parcel of fish is expected to go off well in Sydney. Last evening Mr Ford gave a Stab reporter some particulars regarding this first shipment and the prospects of the export trade.

Thes.s. Mararoahascoolchambersof about 97 tons capacity, and the Sydney Company have engaged the whole of this space, and also that of 20 tons on the s.s. Wairarapa, for a certain period. This shipment of fish amounts to about eighteen tons, comprising some 350 cases in all. Of these over 40 are from the Bluff, Port Chalmers, and the South, about 100 from Napier, and the bulk, 200 cases, from Auckland. Besdes the fish there are also some frozen oysters, from the Bluff. The fish comprise blue cod, trumpeter, makai, gurnet, butterfisb, soles, flounders, schnapper, and salmon trout (from Lake Wakatipu). These comprise samples of New Zealand’s choicest fishes, and are all carefully selected and prepared to present an inviting appearance when on sale in Sydney. The Auckland portion of the cargo is mostly flounders, gurnet and schnapper. There is no mullet in this shipment. The fish are all frozen in the various local freezing factories before being stowed in the cool chambers of the steamer, in order to ensure the better preservation and retain the flavour of the food. Arrangements have been made by the Company with the freezing establishments at the various ports of the colony to freeze all their fish in readiness for shipment. When landed by the fishermen in the first place the fish are thoroughly gutted, was'hed with fresh water, and then taken to the freezing works and thence to the steamer at the wharf.

The greatest bare is exercised in putting up the shipments, and all means taken to ensure their landing at Sydney in perfect preservation. The second shipment to be sent across by the s.s. Wairarapa is now being prepared, and will include a large quantity of game. “ Our Company are doing a very large business in Sydney in fresh food and fish,” said Mr Ford, “and we have just opened a large shop in King-street, near the ‘ Daily Telegraph’ office, especially for theretailing of our New Zealand fish and game. We are giving the establishment a thorough New Zealand appearance with fern 3, etc., and have it fitted up in first-class style for the show and disposal of the fish. The fish will be taken direct to the shcp from the steamer’s freezing chambers, and we don’t expect to keep it long on our hands. There is every prospect of a splendid sale for the fish on the other side, and we have made extensive preparations for a permanent and regular supply of the choicest of the fish obtainable on the New Zealand coast.

“We are trying to obtain a bonus from the Government of New Zealand on the frozen fish shipped out of the colony, as is done in the case of smoked and tinned fish exported. I think it is only fair that the Government should grant some bonus, for the sake of giving the industry a fair start. I have communicated with the Colonial Secretary on the subject.” Speaking on the subject of fishing and the best method of securing thechoicest fish, Mr Ford said thatinhisexperiencefish caught by the hook, such as schnapper, were preferable to those obtained by other methods. Fish obtained by means of trawling were often inferior to those obtained by other means. “1 think,” Mr Ford said, “you people hero should go in for ‘ well boats,’ after the style of the fishing craft at Hobart. You will have to procure these boats fitted with salt-water wells for the fish caught if you want to keep ahead in your fishing business. These well boats have proved very successful, and far superior to the ordinary fishing boats. Then, very likely, you will have to go in for steam-trawlers, as in Melbourne. Down at Napier our Company have now a little steam-trawler in full swing, doing very good work. It is a small steamer belonging to the port, and we have fitted it up with complete trawling plant.” At the Bluff there is a Fish and OysterCompany, with a capital of £6,000, which does a large trade with Melbourne in frozen fish, oysters, etc. This Company has contracted to supply the Sydney company with a large quantity of fish and oysters regularly. Experimental shipments of frozen oysters are included in the parcel on the Mararoa, and the article should prove to be a very acceptable delicacy in Sydney. The Company expect to build up a steady and substantial trade in New Zealand fish, and to make the business highly remunerative. With the wealth of finny food along our coast it is surprising to outsiders that New Zealanders take so little interest in the development of one of their most important industries. The efforts of the Company to establish a large trade in fish should be rewarded with success. Meanwhile the result of this initial shipment will be watched with interest.