D.—No. 15

4

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

adjacent Lake Ellesmere, and, on the north, to the estuary of the Avon and the mouths of the Waimakanri and Saltwater Creek. There can be no doubt that the fish supply of Canterbury falls far short of that of the neighbouring Provinces, both m quality and quantity. The large shoals of barracouta said to be found off the coasts of other parts of the Island are very unfrequent here. The hapuka are limited in number, and the rock cod are inferior m size and firmness to those found in the Otago Province. As regards the state of the existing fisheries in the district: They are principally confined to the bays of Port Lyttelton, Port Levy, and the outlying rocks at their heads, the estuary of the Avon, and the mouths of the Waimakanri and Saltwater Creek, together with Lake Ellesmere, which, communicating with the sea by a narrow outlet, is abundantly supplied with the flounder and herrino-. (a.) —The number of men and boats employed are as follows : — Lyttelton : Three boats, with two hands each. Lake Ellesmere : Three boats, with two hands each. Estuary of the Avon : Three boats, with two hands each. Saltwater Creek: One boat. Kaiapoi and Mouth of Waimakariri: Two boats. The above must he understood as applying only to those cases where fishing is the sole or principal means of livelihood. It would he impossible to ascertain the number of those who only take to fishing m default of other more profitable employment. (£•) —They are principally English, with some Italians. OO—They use the seine, the set net, hand line, &c.; and the average value of the gear is about (d.)— As regards the regularity of their fishing: This entirely depends upon the place, the season, and the weather. During the winter, net fishing is confined to the shoals for flat fish, or, with hook and line, for the few varieties then on the coast. Generally speaking, fish fetch 2d. to sd. per lb. (e.)—Kinds of Fish Obtained. 1. The Flounder or PatikL— This fish is most generally supplied of any, and is brought to market nearly all the year round. In fine weather 300 lbs. or 400 lbs. a day are frequently caught in Lake Ellesmere, and considerable quantities are also obtained from the flats in the estuaries and bays. 2. The Moki.— Considerable quantities of this fish appear on the coasts during tho months of September and October, and also from the middle of January to the end of March, but their supply is very uncertain. 3. The Red Rock Cod.—These are caught with hand line all the year round, but the supply is not great, nor is it properly sent to market. They vary in weight from ilbto 2 lbs. 4. The Mullet or Herring.—These are generally in the market in small quantities. The best are obtained from Lake Ellesmere. 5. The Kawai.— These are taken with net in the bays in the months of September and October but m small numbers ; not 500 during the season. 6. The Hapuka.—'Few of these come to market, not many being taken 7. The Skate. ~) „, A . ~,,,. 8. The Conger I ese are taken Wltll lland lme > but are onl y occasionally found in the market, 9. The Ling ) are not mucn care d for. 10. The Butter-fish.—A. few of these are brought to market during the moki season. 11. The Guard-fish— There is a very small supply of this fish, but it is much prized 12. The Guffie or Rock-fish.— Not much esteemed. 13. The Sting Ray. -\ 14. The Elephant-fish. i These are principally used by the Maoris. 15. Three Varieties of Dog-fish and young Sharks. ) 16. The Sardine. —These are not brought to market, and are not numerous. 17. The Frost-fish.—Very few get to market, as the beaches are too distant. They are much esteemed. 18. The Crawfish.—These are tolerably abundant on the coasts of the Peninsula, but, owino- to the exposed situation, the supply brought to market is very uncertain. They are also procured off Motunau Island. r 19. The Shrimp.- —An unimportant supply. it 2 ?i. Th - 6 fy ster -— There are two natural oyster-beds in Port Lyttelton—one in Charteris Bay and the other m Purau Bay. Besides these, small patches of oyster-ground are found in different parts of the harbour. Pigeon Bay, Port Levy, and Akaroa Harbour have been prospected, and very fine oysters have been found, but no regular beds which would pay for dredging. The Charteris Bay bed consists ol narrow belts and patches, extending over the space of about 100 acres. It has been worked for the last fourteen years, but now barely affords wages. The Purau bed is very small, and nearly worked out - ihe situation of the oyster-beds of Port Lyttelton are indicated in the accompanying map by f/-) - I It is impossible to arrive at any approximate estimate of " the total value of fish sold in the year, as they are mostly disposed of by hawkers. , .„ T . h ? Commissioners recommend that Charteris Bay he reserved for the purpose of establishing artificial oyster-beds on the site of the present natural ones, and that the sites for such beds should be leased to competent persons, who would undertake to fence, plant, and cultivate them, under the supervision of an officer appointed for that purpose; all other persons being forbidden to dredge for oysters within the limits of the bay. As regards the other fisheries, the Commissioners are of opinion that they are conducted fairly and properly, and need no legislative interference. Mack P. Stoddaet. mi. m • ~,i , . ~ Julius Haast. Ihe Chairman of the Fisheries Commission. Aleeed C. Baeton.