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40 



FISHES AND FISHING INDUSTRIES OF TASMANIA. 



FISHING INDUSTRY. 



With a scattered and insulated population of about 150,000 

 inhabitants, it cannot be expected that the fishing industry of 

 Tasmania can be extensive. Nevertheless it is estimated that 

 there are about 86 boats and 175 men engaged therein. The 

 individuals employed hawking the fish within the two chief 

 towns may be estimated at about 80 in number. Altogether 

 it is estimated that, exclusive of the whaling trade, there are 

 1,050 persons directly depending upon the local fisheries. 

 Hobart, the capital city, is the chief centre of the industry, 

 its position being favourable in this respect from its' 

 proximity to the principal fishing-grounds, and its splendid 

 harbour being accessible in all kinds of weather. 



Fully 63 per cent, of the men and boats belong to Hobart, 

 and the men carry on their vocation either in the numerous 

 sheltered indentations or bays in the upper or lower waters 

 of the estuary of the Derwent, or in the exposed open sea 

 between Seymour on the north-east and Port Davey on the 

 south-west. The fishing carried on elsewhere, with the 

 exception of the purely river fishing of the Tamar, is verv 

 limited, generally engaged in at odd times by persons who 

 do not devote themselves exclusively to the fishing industry. 

 The Tamar boats are not suited for fishing in the open sea of 

 Bass Straits. 



With the exception of three or four decked smacks, the 

 most of the boats employed in the waters of the Derwent, or 

 in the open sea Trumpeter and Barracouta fishing- grounds, 

 are mere open centre-board whaleboats, fitted with" fish-wells 

 perforated in direct communication with the sea, and designed 

 to keep the fish alive until sold in the open market in the 

 Fisherman's Dock, Hobart.* The Trumpeter and other fish 

 will feed in such confinement, and the former has been 

 known to live healthily in this way for a period of three 

 months. 



The average value of one of these excellent sea-boatst is 

 about ,£100, and the equipment, in the shape of nets and deep 

 sea lines, say £20 ; in all, say £120 for each boat. There are 

 usually two or three men to each boat. Even with a small 

 crew of this kind, as much as 40 dozen Kingfish, weighing 12 

 to 141bs. each, have been caught in a single night when "the 

 fish have been plentiful. Barracouta can be captured in large 

 quantities during the season—January to June. About 24 

 dozen Barracouta weigh a ton. The fishermen state that 

 could they be assured of a market, 3s. a dozen for Barracouta 

 or Kingfish would amply repay them, — i.e., about id. a 

 pound. * 



* Salt water. 

 t Generally about 37 feet 6 inches long ; beam, 7 feet 8 inches ; depth, about 3 feet 



