H.—l7

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caught altogether in the Kaipara during the months of December, January, and February. To forbid the mullet being taken is, of course, tantamont to forbid net-fishing, as it would be impossible to prevent the protected fish from getting in the net, and mullet once meshed do not live. The new regulation will therefore be the means of taking away from the water-side settler, during the summer months, a grand supply of food, which he has hitherto depended on, and at the same time wiil be of no use whatever to the fish it is intended to benefit.

[Extract from the New Zealand Herald, 26th November, 1886.] There has been a good show of mullet in town during the last few days, as the fishmongers seem determined to furnish those who delight in this fish with a meal before tho close season commences. The fish look in splendid condition.

[Extract from the New Zealand Herald, 29th November, 1886.] Close Season foe Mullet. To the Editor. Sib, —As a few people are of opinion that mullet are scarce in the Kaipara, I may state that a few weeks since I was offered Kaipara smoked mullet at 3s. per dozen, a price that speaks for itself. I believe the Kaipara curers do not run their establishments in the hot weather, therefore they wish a close season. To put jesting aside, Ido really think the Government should proclaim a close season this summer for yachts and sailing-vessels that sail about the harbour for pleasure, as last autumn we had a lot of calms that seriously interfered with coasting vessels getting along. It is my opinion that the calms were caused by so many vessels using up all the wind, which, of course, will make the wind scarce and more difficult to raise. Certainly it will be very hard for the mullet men to raise the wind.—l am, &c, Albebt Sandfobd.

To the Editor. Sic, —I was greatly surprised at the ignorance displayed by Ewing and Co. when they stated to the Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Wellington, that the arguments used against a close season for mullet emanated from fishmongers, whose interest it was to keep the trade all the year round, and were not worth any notice. Now, Sir, it is quite evident that Ewing and Co. know as little about fishmongering as they do about fishing and the habits of fish. Now, as regards a fishmonger in the Old country, he is accustomed to have fish in season, and to be without a certain kind of fish for a time, which may be a close season in the case of salmon and a few river-fish ; also, cod is not eaten during the three summer months ; but there is no legislation to stop catching them or selling them. Now, a fishmonger's business is to sell fish, not any particular kind, but all fish that are eatable, and therefore it would not make any difference to him—as people will eat fish; if not mullet, they will have other sorts. I may say, for the public information, having lived in and near Holland for some time, that previous to 1857 the Dutch fishermen were hampered by the Government in various ways, by making close seasons for one fish and another, the result being that year by year the fisheries were declining; but in 1857 all restrictions were removed, and the result is that there are more than twice the smacks engaged in the fishing, and many of them double the size. Now, will a Government, on the evidence of a few men (who imagine by keeping the fresh mullet out of the market will enable them to sell their canned), stop an industry in its very infancy, and throw men and their families out of their means of living for three months at the present time, when there is so much depression ? I hope all intelligent people will help to put down such a monstrous thing. How is it our members are so silent? I believe Mr. Tole will do his best; but he must be supported. The fishermen ask no favour, but fair-play and common-sense to be used in making their laws. And if our Auckland members will inquire into this, and ask impartial men for evidence, we shall soon have the thing put right.—l am, &0., 29th November, 1886. W. Nelson, Fishmonger, Queen Street, Auckland.

[Extract from the New Zealand Herald, 3rd December, 1886.] Close Season foe Mullet. I am informed that tho Hon. Mr. Tole, Minister of Justice, has, in the form of a memorandum, submitted to the Hon. Mr. Larnach tho information collected by him during his recent sojourn in Auckland respecting the alleged scarcity of mullet upon the New Zealand coast. Mr. Tole tells me that this information comes from expert fishermen who have been connected with the industry for years. According to this testimony mullet were nevermore abundant or cheaper than at present. I learn from another source that the question at issue is purely one of fact; that he will carefully consider the whole of the evidence, and will at an early date be in a position to say whether the restriction upon catching mullet by the recent Order in Council should be removed. —(Own Correspondent.)

[Extract from the New Zealand Herald, 4th December, 1886.] Close Season fob Mullet. A correspondent, over the signature of " Mullet," writes from Awanui on the above subject: "In your issue of the 6th November, I see the Government are about having a close season for mullet. Now, 1 think before the Government took upon themselves the responsibility of throwing two or three hundred men out of employment in these hard times, with their families to starve for three months, they should have had an open inquiry, and got the experience of real practical men. They would then have found that the mullet are far more plentiful on the New Zealand coast now than they were twenty-one years ago, when I started fishing in New Zealand waters. When steamers began to frequent the bays and harbours I have found that the fish have disappeared, but only to appear in greater numbers in the bays where there were no steamers going. Now, as the New Zealand Governnent profess to foster local industry, they could not do the people of New Zealand a greater kindness than let the fishing industry go unfettered, and make some provision for the present unemployed, and not add to their numbers."

[Extract from the New Zealand Herald, 20th December, 1886.] Oub Habvest of the Sea. —Should it be Pbotected ?—Opinions of T. L. Cheeseman, P.L.S. Considerable controversy has lately taken place as to whether or not New Zealand's fish-supply, particularly mullet, should be conserved by means of a close season. Some have contended that cessation from catching mullet is not required; while others have averred that unless the fish remain unmolested during at least their spawning season the supply will diminish. Mr. Cheeseman, the curator of the Auckland Museum, having devoted attention to the colony's " harvest of the sea," a Herald representative recently waited upon him to ascertain bis views. Statistics Wanted. " It is rather a difficult question, that of a close season for mullet," said Mr. Cheeseman, in answer to the question put to him, " because we know so little of the life-history of the mullet, and we have so few statistics as to the annual take, and the number of men employed in the fishery. It is, therefore, hard to compare the take of one season with another, and find out whether the fish are stationary in numbers, or whether they are increasing or diminishing. My own opinion is that a close season, not of very long duration, is advisable. " What are your reasons for saying that?—My reason is that of all our food-fishes the mullet has, by far, the narrowest range. It is found, in fishable quantities, between the North Cape and the Bay of Plenty on the east coast, and Kawhia Harbour on the west coast. In addition to that, it is only found in shallow water with a muddy or