THE FISHING INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 17 June 1914, Page 2

THE FISHING INDUSTRY

PROFESSOR PRINCE'S REPORT. SOME OF HIS PRINCIPAL SUGGESTIONS.

Per' Press Association. Christchurch, Juno to. Professor Prince, who has been commissioned to prepare a report for the Government upon the development of New Zealand's fishory resources, anticipates being able to present a most comprehensive report to the Minister for Marine about the" first week in July. The report presented then to the Minister will be followed by one more in detail from Canada. The latter report should be available to Parliament this session. The.main points of the report will be as follow;

(1) Greater enterprise in fishing operations and improving ships and gear. (2) Better methods of handling fish with a view to the preservation of thier appearance and edible qualities. They could be landed on the market as fresh fish by the use of a chilling chamber on boats; this would be, prefcrablo to freezing them."

(3) Facilities for rapid transportation should be increased throughout the Dominion, so that catches could be placed on the market with the least loss of time.

(4) A large central market-should be established for the disposal of fish in both wholesale and retail fashion. This work should preferably be undertaken by municipalities. In his report Professor Prince will also make very special reference to the attempts hitherto made by the Government to introduce the sea herring of the northern hemisphere into these waters. "I think the attempt made," he fr.iil, "was a splendid one, and I ref;'Vft that it did not prove a success. I propose to include in my report to the Govcrnmont a very important proposal with respect to the introduction on a large scale of this northern herring, and I am confident that the suggestion which I shall make will ensure success. I am not at liberty to give any details at present, but I attach unusual importance to the introduction of the herring into these waters for these reasons:—(l) The herring of the north is an exceedingly fine fisb, and is universally esteemed, as an article of diet. It can be cured, smoked, pickled, or eaten fresh, and there is an illimitable market for it, so that commercially it is a very important fish in itself. (2) Of hardly less importance is the fact that where the herring abounds other very valuable food fish abound. There is no greater attraction for deepsea fish than herring schools in-shore. There have been cases where vsheti the herrings have gone other valuable deepsea fish have gone too. In short, it is a known fact that there is a close connection between the presence of herrings and other valuable food fishes, and therefore the best of results would follow the introduction of the herring into these waters." Some recommendations to the Government upon game fish would be included in his report, said the professor, but ho thought he could say that from the sportsman's point of view the conditions here were far more satisfactory than in most countries. So far as Christclmrch was concerned he did not sec that the fis'hermen had very much to complain about, seeing that in a few hours they could reach rivers which contained abundant supplies of trout. Certainly he thought the local men were rather fortunate.