7

H.—l7

This is the first year we have been so late. It may be that the proper fish have not yet come in. I think they go to sea, and retire to spawn. Continually after spawning they go to sea —at least, I believe so—but we never see them going out. Spawning begins generally about the end of November, and, as a rule, all the fish spawn at the same time. The spawning probably continues for nearly three months. Young fish, from -J-in., are very abundant up the creeks in February and March. Get " clean-guts" all the year round on the banks. One haul may be clean and the next muddy. They are seldom mixed, except one or two odd ones. They are only mixed when those taken from different places have been mixed in the boat. The fishermen say that all the fish caught before sunset are muddy, and those caught after dark are clean. Cannot say this from my own knowledge. They get large hauls of clean fish in the winter, especially from the Heads. They seldom have spawn in them. The best hauls of fish are made in September and October. During October and November we have taken 700 dozen, and did not get so many in the previous three months. March is sometimes a good month, but is often too early for the fish to be in good condition. I think the three months' closing has improved the fishing. It should be closed for three months at least—from Ist December to the Ist March. No necessity at present to extend it another month. The closing should apply to the whole harbour under present circumstances, but if instead the canneries were closed for three months it would be a better way. The small number of fish caught outside the factory work would not signify. Think the spawning-grounds should be protected, and the former limit would be sufficient. Think a in. or 4f in. mesh should be required for flat-fish, as with such a mesh mullet would escape. There are tons of flat-fish that could be taken safely during the close season with a4f in. mesh flounder-net. There is a close season for mullet at the Bay of Islands from the 20th December to the 20th March. Think there ought to be a close season there, although most of the fish are sea-going or clean-gut. The fishermen in Kaipara distinguish between " school fish " and " settlers." The " school fish " are those with firm flesh and quite clean inside, which occasionally enter the harbour from the ocean in enormous shoals. The " settlers" are those mullet of moderate size which stay in the harbour and run up the rivers. They are always muddy inside, owing to their feeding on the mud-banks. Cannot say if these are different species or not. The mullet are quite good until the roe is half-grown, and are then best flavoured, not being so rich. Mr. Ewing, Batley : Have been eleven years engaged in canning mullet. Took over Mr. Masefield's business in 1884. There are more fish now than at the time I started. Thus, in the first year I canned 6,300 dozen, with five boats fishing continually. I have continued every year since then, but there was a break from the 7th February, 1891, to the 10th June, 1893, while I was starting a factory at Ohoro, near the North Cape, and which I abandoned on account of rough weather, which prevented a steady supply of fish being obtained. In 1893 (six months), with only one boat, we canned 5,350 dozen; and in 1894 (nine months), with only one boat, we only canned 6,940 dozen. During these two years Messrs. Masefield were also working. This year, up to the present (eight months), we have only canned 3,510 dozen, this having been a very bad season ; but we expect to get about 1,200 dozen more in November, which will make a total of about 4,700 dozen. The following is a statement of the total number of fish canned by us since we began : — Dozen. 1884 (five boats, from Ist March to 10th December—9i months) ... 6,300 1885 „ „ " „ ... 6,100 1886 (three boats, from Ist March to 10th December—9 J months) ... 5,600 1887 „ „ „ ... 4,840 1888 „ „ „ ... 6,032 1889 (two boats, from Ist March to 10th December—9-J-months) ... 5,369 1890 „ „ „ ... 5,500 1893 (one boat, from Ist March to 10th December—9£ months) ... 5,350 1894 „ „ „ ... 6,940 1895 „ „ (8 months) ... 3,510 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 55,542 We prefer the fish caught on the banks, and so do not take fish in the rivers as much as formerly, and cannot say if fish are scarcer. Certainly there is less leaping and splashing than formerly. I do not think the closing has had any perceptible effect in increasing the fish. We fish up to the 20th December, getting the fish from outside the boundary to that month. They are quite good for canning up to that date, and are mostly male fish. The heat of the weather does not hinder canning up to that date, the great heat not coining till later on. Assuming that the fish spawn in shallow water in summer up the creeks, the plan of closing the river and leaving the banks to be fished is the best. Firm hard fish can be got on the banks even in the hottest weather—that is, in February and March; but they are nearly all male fish. The nets used up to the present year were 4 in. and 4-J-in. mesh, of three-ply sahnon-gilling twine, 400 yds. long, and 5 ft. deep. By altering the number of leads they can be made either floating or drift nets. In deep water two nets are joined, one above the other. This has been done this last winter, and has proved successful, especially in stormy weather. Have only once seen a solid school of fish entering the Heads from the sea, but others have seen them frequently. The fish are in best condition for canning in November, when the roe is growing up to where it is rather more than half-formed. The prices given for fish are by agreement. We fish from the middle of February to the middle of December. For the first two and last two months of this time we get the fish much cheaper, as the weather is better and the fishermen can work longer. At present the offal is thrown into the sea. It is at once eaten up by kahawai and birds. Do not think it drives the mullet away. Do not consider the proposed change in the season is necessary or warranted. Quite contented if it is continued as it was before. If any change is made it should