Shovelling fish and selling rabbits

• A large shoal of fish, principally red cod, followed or preceded the s.s.Tarawera into the graving dock at Port Chalmers yesterday morning, and when the entrance gates were closed the imprisoned fish attracted some attention as they swam round and round the confined area seeking for a way of escape.

As the water was pumped out through the iron gratings at the bottom of the dock the fish were stranded, and the suction of the pumping operations below was so great that large numbers were deposited over the gratings, causing a blockage, when they had to be shovelled off to allow the water to escape freely.

When the dock was completely pumped out the floor was covered with stranded fish, which were gathered up and placed in heaps or put into baskets and taken away by all and sundry.

• The season for trapping rabbits in Otago Province opens on the 14th inst., and there is every anticipation of it being one of the busiest on record.

Blocks of land for trapping are at a premium, and so great has been the rush for areas that it is anticipated the number of men engaged in catching "bunny" this season will exceed 4000.

Several thousands of traps have already been forwarded to the country.

As to prices, it simply rests with the trappers themselves to get the best possible money by falling in with the wishes of exporters and bleeding the rabbits and otherwise handling them carefully.

Improved quality, of course, means improved prices on the London market. The market will open at 5d per pair on the ground.

The impetus which such wholesale trapping of rabbits gives to the freezing industry and to the timber trade - for truck loads of timber for packing-cases go to the depots almost daily during the season - is very considerable, while it is calculated that the industry brings into the country in one season alone nearly 100,000.

This refers to Otago only. The bulk of the money goes to the trappers.

- ODT, 5.3.1910.