WHAREAMA FISHERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 6 February 1908, Page 5

WHAREAMA FISHERY.

(To the Editor). Sir, —Agone who was interested! in the Whareama as a fishing ground, I cannot let your leading articles, lately dealing with this matter pass; without commenting on them, and: giving my experiences ranging over nearly twelve months in trying the Whareama River. Twelve months, ago my feelings about the Whareama were much the same as yours are now, and I think that my information* then came from the same source as yours does now. Acting on his unreliable information, two friends of mine, Captain Neilson and his mate, Mr Pulford, came down from Napier to have a look at the Whareama. Captain Neilson, besides having skippered several trawlers at Napier,. was captain of the s.s. Doto; whenshe made her experimental/trawling trip around New Zealand in 1900. He had a fine yacht, with auxiliary engine, and £l5O worth of nets and trawls that he intended putting into the fishing industry on the Whareama, but after they had made trials and taken soundings on the bar, he would not take the risk in what he concluded then, and I have since found out to be a risky and unprofitable business. Mr Pulford and I continued to test the river to gather information, and to get together a good assortment of gear, then when Mr Pulford was bringing the gear from Gastlepoint he lost his life at the mouth of the river. Flounders can be caught in uncertain quantities in the river from November to April, also kawai and mullett, but both these fish of are of small market • value comj ared with other varieties caught on fishing grounds that supply the bulk of the fish to New Zealand towns. The amount of fish in the rivers could not maintain a sufficient or regular supply to,Masterton or district, therefore, would not support anyone relying on the riveri alone. Outside the mouth of the river, and along the coast, I unders'and a good variety of marketable fish are to be found in quantities that would pay to catch \if in a more favourable locality. The coast is very rough and dangerous, the bar has not sufficient water on it at all seasons to admit a boat suitable for the work going in and out of the river when required. Outside the bar the water is shallow for about a mile; consequently if any sea is running it breaks some distance out, very often a lee swell sets in several days before easterly weather comes on, and renders it impossible for a boat to get in or out. When these swells set in the fish make out into deep water. Altoaether the unfavourable conditions under which the fishing would have to be done off the mouth of the river would make it unpayable. The question of cheap fish for Masterton from this source cannot be entertained, with any seriousness. • In the first place, the fish are not there in sufficient quantities, in safe and suitable fishing giounds for any length of time to allow of a regular supply to be retailed here after paying working expense at the river, cartage and retailing expenses, at a lower price than fish sell at now; and. in the second place, it is not likely that if any syndicate could put a quantity of fish into Masterton that they would sell under the ruling prices, because the demand is tco keen in Wellington; they would naturally sell in the best market. Such companies usually get as much for their outlay as possible, and do not study any town in particular. Coming to the question - of making the Whareama a holiday retreat and tourist resort, is it worth the money that would be needed to acquire the access and make a road to the river, and that at a point several miles from the mouth of the stream, and after the holiday-makers reach the. mouth of /the river there is only half a mile of;sandy beach on each side of the river. Surf bathing is dangerous on account of the currents, and the sharks that are on that coast, and the place does not cpme up to the expectations of the average holiday-maker. At present Castlepoint, which is easy of access, afford pleasure-seekers a good holiday place. There are several miles of beach there, sorrn fishing and and bathing, it is more suitable generally than the Whareama.' The Whareama is not going to benefit Masterton to such an extent as some people think. I have nothing to gain, or anything to lose (I have lost enough already there) over anyone starting fishing there, but I can assure you that in the event of any syndicate commencing fishing there, offering me fish at half the price, that I pay now, I would not take them, because I would only lose my regular, supply from Napier for one that could only last a few months. In conclusion, I will add that talk is cheap, but experience teaches. —I am, etc., , W. D. AYSON. [As a matter of courtesy we publish Mr Ayson's letter. He seems to have written more from a personal than a public point of view.—Ed. W.A.]