D.—No. IS.

THE EISHERIES OE THE COLONY.

9

40. Any general remarks ?—I consider that red cod, ling, and barracouta, are the kinds of fish which possess the highest commercial value, as they are more readily cured, and when well cured (smoked and hermetically packed), would be a saleable article in any part of the world where fish is used; the other varieties are of too oily a nature to dry readily, and lam unable to say to what extent curing and packing them in brine would, succeed. The first appearance of frost is usually the signal for the fish taking off. The opinion is prevalent that they go off the land into deeper water ; and many are of opinion that in winter, fishing in craft better suited to keep to sea, and with long lines, would succeed. There is a small crustacean resembling a shrimp, and usually known as whale-feed, which frequents our coasts in immense quantities in the season. As a fertilizing agent I have used this, and found it vastly superior to any kind of manure I ever used, even guano, of which it possesses all the stimulating powers without being exhaustive; it comes in such immense quantities as often to extend as far as the eye can reach, and may be " shovelled " into a boat or small craft by means of hand nets under the lee of reefs off shore. I have always considered that the visitation of this little animal will in time come to be an event of the utmost importance to Otago, as the supply is inexhaustible, very light of carriage, and in it we have an agent by the employment of which we can defy impoverishment or exhaustion of soil. There is a fish called the " frost-fish " which throws itself on beaches during the winter months, usually during frosty weather with off-shore winds ; it is highly prized for its delicate flavour, and, as it comes in a season when fish is scarce, it commonly fetches a high price. Mr. James Seaton, M.P.C, examined. 41. Does the provision of .'■ The Fisheries Act, 1866," give sufficient inducement to parties preparing oyster-beds ? —No, as only fourteen years' lease can be given under the Act, and in very many cases beds cannot be brought into full bearing at a shorter period of time than ten years ; consequently the tenant would have no inducement to expend money with anything like a certainty of a profitable return. 42. If not, what amendments would you propose ? —I would propose that the lease should, be granted for at least fifty years, because, by doing so, an inducement would be held out to parties to improve the beds let to them ; whereas, if a much shorter time be determined upon, they would very naturally hesitate to do so, as they would consider that the improvements made at their expense would induce other parties to bid against them when the lands were to be re-leased, before the lessee has had time to repay himself for his outlay. 43. Can you suggest any alterations to simplify the working of the Act, and what would be the effect of those amendments ? —Yes ; in the first place I would recommend that the power be vested in one officer, instead of two as at present, to lease and give licenses to collect spat or spawn, as there seems to be a good deal of doubt in the minds of the two officers named in the Act to whom the duty belongs. Clause 4 down to clause 10 of the Act gives certain powers to the Crown Lands Commissioner, but from that clause to the end of the Act it would seem as if his jurisdiction got mixed up somehow in an incomprehensible manner with that of the Collector of Customs, which I found to my great inconvenience when wanting to get permission to collect spat or spawn during the last close season. I would therefore suggest as an amendment, that one officer should have the carrying out of the Act, as in that case no misunderstanding could arise. 44. Is sufficient protection afforded to licensees by " The Fisheries Act, 1866 ?"—No, as no provision is made for preventing parties from anchoring or otherwise trespassing upon lands laid out as oyster-beds. From my own experience I find that any one may go upon and by that means learn where and how they are laid, and are thus in a position to go in the dark and rob the beds. Now, if sufficient protection was given, lessees should have the power to prevent trespass in any shape, and then they would be in no better position than the general public, as they can prevent intrusion upon their property of any other kind. I consider, also, that lessees are hampered by unnecessary restrictions ; for instance, they are required to take out a license from the Collector of Customs —for what ? why to collect the produce of their own farms, and are prevented from prosecuting for more than one offence, when it is possible that half-a-dozen may be committed before it is possible to institute proceedings for the first offence. Why not allow them to be cumulative, within a certain time, say ten days, or any time within reasonable limits, so that it would not be oppressive upon any one ? 45. General remarks ? —Another thing that I think ought to be referred to, is the duration of the close season. It seems to me that parties who have gone to great expense in planting beds would not be very likely to rob their own property by gathering oysters when out of season, but would very likely use the liberty granted them judiciously, as they would be the parties to suffer most if they acted otherwise ; however, I admit that some restriction ought to be put upon parties collecting from natural beds, as their interest is to get as much as they can without any thought of the future. Captain Tall, examined. By Mr. Burns.] 46. What experience have you in oyster fishing ? —Four years in England and Wales and Jersey Island, eight years in Victoria, Melbourne, Western Port, Port Albert, Corner Inlet, Gipps Land, Ac, &c. 47. What months of the year would you recommend to be closed against fishing ? —I would recommend the three summer months in any country. 48. What quantity of oysters are taken on the coasts of Otago in a year, and what may be the marketable value ? —The bulk of oysters are brought from Stewart's Island ; there has been a considerable quantity taken from the Cross Channel, within Otago Heads. Estimated quantity, 40,000 dozen. Value, £2,000, more or less. 49. How many men are employed in fishing, and what means are used ? —There are many men employed in connection with oyster fisheries, shops and hawkers —I should think about fifty, more or less. The means used are by dredging along the ground with iron dredges dragged by means of small 3