TRAWLING EXPERIMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 42, 30 May 1910, Page 5

TRAWLING EXPERIMENTS.

SOME BIG- HAULS. J By Telegraph—Press Association. / Auckland, May 25. The tug Sterling has been equipped with a trawling plant in order that when not required for trawling sue may exploit the fishing banks which exist off the Kaipara coast. Last wek an initial experiment with the gear was essayed inside the outer banks at Kaipara entrance, but with ipoor, returns, the catches being only a few schnapper and trevalli. The result was not unexpected, for the trawl master, who has had considerable experience in British and Australian waters, had found that tidal zones are generally unproductive. The steamer proved admirably adapted for the work and on the Thursday proceeded outside the bar and commenced operations in six to 20 fathoms. The first trawl was poorly rewarded, evidently owing to the vessel's speed being too great, for on slowing down fish were got more plentifully. On Friday, in the same vicinity, within eight miles of the bar seven tons of schnapper, red gurnet, with occasional barracouta, trevalli, yellow tail, and John Dorys, a few stingarees and dog-fish, and' one frost fish were secured. The stringarees and dogfish were exceptionally fat, testifying to the wealth of marine life. On' return to Helensville two tons of tbe spoil were delivered to the Dominion Canning Factory, the balance being forwarded to the city where it found a ready market. The Sterling is to be regularly engaged in the industry and other fishing grounds' are to be exploited.