TOHEROA BEDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 24, 24 December 1932, Page 7

TOHEROA BEDS.

BEACHES ON WEST COAST. WELLINGTON, Dec. 24. Tho opinion that the toheroa beds, on tlie beaches of Levin, Otaki and Waikanae might reasonably be expected to become ol real commercial use, provided they continue to improve, is expressed in the last annual report of the chief inspector of Fisheries, Mr A. E. Hefford. Holiday’ picnic parties on these beaches, which have been in the habit of taking the toheroa. in large quantities will, however, be guilty of an offence, this year if indiscriminate picking is undertaken. “The year 1931-32 was exceptionally difficult'for the canned toheroa trade,” says Mr Heiford, “owing principally to tho reduced demand for this luxury in Australia. One cannery suspended operations, and the other packed a somewhat smaller quantity than in the previous year. During the last three or four years there has been a noteworthy improvement in the abundance of toheroa (locally known as toliemaunga) on the beaches in the neighbourhood of Levin, Otaki and Waikanae, on the west coast of the AVellington province. These beds have been previously regarded as not containing sufficient stock to warrant being ieased or otherwise made available lor commercial exploitation. “However, if the improvement continues, it seems reasonable to entertain hopes of their becoming a commercial asset, as well as a source of food for the Natives of the district. It is desirable that these and other toheroa beds should be made the object of a systematic survey, and more thorough investigation made of their biology, and especially the conditions which determine their distribution and abundance. Over all the North Island beds, as far as can l>o ascertained, the present stock of full-grown toheroa is well up to average abundance, except where exploitation has been excessive. “The Southland beds, on the other hand, appear to have deteriorated. On the Ninety Mile Beach a considerable mortality of toheroas from some unknown natural cause occurred in February, 1932. Tlie beds were verv heavily stocked. The scavenging operations of sea birds and the effects of high spring tides quickly disposed of the danger of pollution to the beach which it was feared might be a serious matter and it is understood that no very considerable harm has been dono to tho beds, although the losses were reported to be very heavy.” Under tlie regulations governing picking, a size limit of three has been fixed, and a “bag” of oO must not be exceeded by any one person in one day. The use of spades nnd shovels has been prohibited The taking of toheroas for sate is forbidden, except under license and even then there is a restriction as to the day s taking. Honorary inspectors have been appointed to see that these regulations are not broken.