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In the 1920s there were repeated attempts to improve facilities for the local fishing fleet; a wharf or jetty and some harbour works providing protection from the sea were sought. The ideas progressed to the point where both the Council and central government were willing to contribute but it seems both the overall cost and local opposition delayed the plans until the onset of the depression put paid to the ideas altogether. We (the Society) are researching the full story of this, which sits alongside other failed plans for a bridge to the island and building a restaurant on it!
In looking at the 1920 proposals we came across a long letter to the editor of the Evening Post which describes something of the conditions in which local fishers worked in those days, and the economic environment in which their trade took place. The author, unfortunately, was anonymous but with some diligent detective work we hope to identify him (or her). The writer’s punctuation has been left intact, along with the spelling of ‘dinghy’ but paragraphs have been added to what, in the original, is a dense slab of text.
Seriolella punctata (Tas) : Silver warehou, 1867, by Frank Edward Clarke. Te Papa (1992-0035-2278/105)
FISHERMEN AT ISLAND BAY - A FEW FACTS
FISHERMEN AT ISLAND BAY - A FEW FACTS
(Evening Post 17 January 1921)
(Evening Post 17 January 1921)
Sir, —Without encroaching unnecessarily upon your valuable space I would like, through the medium of your columns, to bring under public notice a few facts which may serve, firstly, to enlighten those of your readers who are ignorant of many points concerning the fishing industry; and, secondly, to endeavour to impress' upon the Municipal and Government authorities the urgent need to make a definite move - to carry out the projected improvements for the fishermen at Island Bay.
The public of Wellington who complain of the high price of fish are perhaps under a misapprehension as to the percentage of profits which go to the fishermen, and also have no idea of the unfavourable conditions under which the fisherman at island Bay arc obliged to work.
The prime object of this letter is to state the case plainly from the fishermen's point of view. In common with all other commodities, fishing gear, boats, engines, etc., having risen in price since the war from 300 to 500 per cent, benzine has also been scarce, and the price abnormally high. The weather conditions in and around Cook Strait during the past season have been the worst experienced for many years, making; it impossible for the boats to go out to the fishing banks, except on a very few days, each month.
And, coupled with this, there has been a great scarcity of fish. Last week it was announced that about 12,000 warehou had been landed by the boats at Island Bay. The average householder reading that item of news probably comes to the conclusion that fresh fish will be cheaper ; but he does not get his fish any cheaper, and the fishermen gets still less, as the wholesale price drops when there is a glut in the fish market.
After toiling long hours for his small return from the harvest of the iioa, the fisherman has to repair his nets and make good losses sustained through the misfortunes attached to the weather. During Saturday night and Sunday of last week, some hundreds of pounds worth of large warehou nets were lost in Fitzroy Bay owing to a heavy swell and strong tide, and this loss, in conjunction with the poor price realised for the fish, resulted in a considerable loss to the majority of the fishermen on the week's fishing.
What I wish to make clear to your readers is the fact that the fishermen have no control over, or say in, the matter of priced which the public is called upon to pay for fish.
While hoping I am not occupying too much of your limited space, I desire to say a few words in reference to the lack of any conveniences for fishermen at Island Bay, and, from a public health point of view, the insanitary means of handling the fish at the bay. The launches leave for the fishing banks at daybreak, and, after a hard day's work, return just before dusk with the day's catch. On arrival at the Bay the fish, having been beheaded, are transferred to dingheys and rowed to the shore. From here the fish has to be carried to the roadside, entailing many trips to and from the water's edge and an unnecessary waste of valuable time. There being no alternative, the fish is left in heaps at various points on the roadside until the carrier calls.
Since the early days of settlement Island Bay has been a fishing centre, and the industry has grown apace with the times, but the same out-of-date methods of handling the fish prevails today that was the case forty years ago. During recent years several individual efforts have been made by the fishermen to prevail upon the City Council or Government to carry out certain proposed improvements for the fishermen at Island Bay, but until late last year no combined action was ever taken by the fishermen. Last year the fishermen at Island Bay, in order to fight for their own interests decided to form an association, which has been duly incorporated under the Friendly Societies' Act.
Having done this deputations from the association intervwed the Hon. Minister for Marine and also the City Council, and in both instances were assured that the needs of 'the fishermen would have early consideration.
Since September last much correspondence has boon carried on between the association and City Council, and promises of visits by the City Engineer and others have been made to decide upon a suitable site for the proposed wharf, sheds, and slipway, but up to the present moment these promises have not materialised. I trust that one effect of this letter will be to call the attention of the council and Government to the urgent need for making an early start with the proposed work at Island Bay, which will be greatly appreciated by the fishermen.
To revert to the question of the supply and price of fish, the Government recently passed an Act whereby financial assistance would be available for bona fide fishermen with the object of extending the fishing industry and increasing the supply of fish. The Government could do still more to assist fishermen by removing- or substantially reducing the import duty on fishing gear and marine oil engines for fishing purposes. This question has already been submitted to the Minister for Customs with a view to being brought before the House at an early date. In conclusion, sir, I trust you will see your way to give full publicity to the contents of this letter, thereby rendering a service to the fishermen, of whom I am one myself.—l am, etc., BONA FIDE. Island Bay.
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