9

H.—lsa

occasional patches of sand, with rocks jutting out at intervals. The net was put down in Paterson Inlet, off Abraham Bay, in 4£ fathoms, the lead showing a soft bottom. Towed for twenty minutes, and got foul of a snag that pulled the steamer up. The obstruction proved to be a piece of rock several tons in weight, which had got right into the net. The net being a new one, made of strong Manila twine, it held fast, and three hours were occupied hauling at it before a breach was effected and the rock went through. With the exception of a large hole in the net no other damage was done to the gear. Put into Half-moon Bay for the night. Seventy-ninth Haul. —We left Half-moon Bay at 7 a.m. on the 20th. After visiting an old sawmill-site in Horseshoe Bay we steamed south. When off " The Neck" the net was put down in 17 fathoms, on what seemed a good even bottom, but we had only towed half an hour when it got fast. When hauled up it contained a lot of weeds, several pieces of rock, while fish were represented by a few megrims and small tarakihi. Soundings taken up to Bast Head showed the bottom to be sand and rock. Steamed on to Pegasus Inlet. Eightieth Haul. —Soundings in the north arm of Pegasus Inlet showed sand and mud. The net was put down in 19 fathoms and towed for twenty-five minutes, when it again got fast, and was hauled up full of weeds and with several pieces of rock. Fish were represented by soles, megrims, and tarakihi. Anchored for the night at the head of the North Arm. Weighed anchor at 6 a.m. on the 21st April, and after taking in a supply of fresh water tested the south arm with the lead, but got an unsafe bottom. Steamed round to Wilson Bay, where the bottom showed patches of sand, with occasional rocks. Left Wilson Bay at 12.30 p.m. for Mason Bay, arriving there at 6.30 p.m. Eighty-first Haul. —The anchor was taken up in Mason Bay at 5.50 a.m. on the 22nd April. The net was put down in 9 fathoms, at 5.55 a.m., on sand. Towed half an hour, and picked up in 12 fathoms full of weeds, but with very few fish, the following kinds being represented: ling, tarakihi, soles, flounders, and cat-fish. Eighty-second Haul. —Steamed a short distance after picking up, and put down the net in 10 fathoms on soft sand. After being down three-quarters of an hour the net was noticed to be towing heavily, and was hauled up full of weeds, but with very few fish, a few flounders, soles, ling, tarakihi, and cat-fish being all it contained. Pine weather prevailing with a steady glass it was decided, while the weather conditions were so favourable, to cross the Straits to the mainland and work Tewaewae Bay. Eighty-third Haul. —Left Mason Bay at 9 a.m. Fine sand bottom was found in 36, 34, 31, and 32 fathoms. The net was put down in 25 fathoms on fine sand. Towed for an hour and a half, and picked up in 23 fathoms. The net came up free from weeds, and the only fish were a few lemon-soles, ling, and 40 large cat-fish. Eighty-fourth Haul. —After picking up at station 83 a fine sand bottom was found all the way into Tewaewae Bay. The net was put down well in the bay in 8 fathoms at 3.30 p.m.; bottom soft sand. Towed N. W. fN. for an hour and a half, and hauled up in 7 fathoms off an even soft sand bottom. This haul yielded 18 soles, 50 red-cod, 11 flounders, 1 gurnard, and a number of dog- and elephant-fish. Eighty-fifth Haul. —Shot the net again in 8 fathoms on a soft sand bottom. Towed E.S.E for an hour, and hauled up in 8 fathoms. This haul yielded 9 flounders, 24 soles, 6 gurnard, 40 red-cod, and a number of dog- and elephant-fish. Anchored for the night off Monkey Island, behind Pahia Point. Eighty-sixth Haul. —Left anchorage in Tewaewae Bay at 7.15 a.m. on the 23rd April. Steamed a short distance, and put over the net in 8 fathoms on a soft sand bottom. Hauled up after towing an hour and a half in 7 fathoms. The result of this haul was very satisfactory, yielding 20 ling, 160 soles, 1 turbot, 55 flounders, 200 red-cod, 2 skate, and a quantity of dog- and elephant-fish. Eighty-seventh Haul. —The net was put over again in 7 fathoms, on soft sand, at 9.30 a.m. Towed for two hours, and hauled up in 7 fathoms. This haul yielded 78 soles, 3 turbot, 20 flounders, 6 ling, 250 red-cod, besides skate, dog- and elephant-fish. Eighty-eighth Haul. —After picking up steamed a short distance and found the bottom still 7 fathoms, and soft sand. The net was put down once more at that depth, and towed S.E. fE. for an hour and a half, when it was taken up in 6 fathoms. The result was again very good, giving 160 soles, 30 flounders, 4 turbot, 20 red-cod, 4 ling, 10 gurnard, and a number of elephant- and dog-fish. Eighty-ninth Haul. —The trawl was put down in Tewaewae Bay for the last time at 1.45 p.m. in 6 fathoms; bottom soft sand. Towed S.E. by S. fS. for an hour and a quarter, and hauled up in 7 fathoms. Eesult : 104 soles, 20 flounders, 2 turbot, 3 ling, 30 red-cod, 3 skate, and a few dogand elephant-fish. Eeturned to the Bluff to coal. Ninetieth Haul. —After coaling and taking in water we left the Bluff at 10.40 a.m. on the 24th April for Eiverton Bay. The net was put down to the west of New Eiver in 7 fathoms, bottom sand and fine gravel, and taken up in 6 fathoms, after towing an hour and a half. This haul gave 23 soles, 18 flounders, 13 lemon-soles, 3 ling, and 50 red-cod. Ninety-first Haul. —The net was put down again about the middle of the bay in 5 fathoms at 2.15 p.m.; bottom sand. Towed in the direction of Eiverton Bar for an hour and a half, and hauled up in 3J fathoms. Eesult: 36 flounders, 6 soles, 13 lemon-soles, 10 tarakihi, and 106 redcod. Ninety-second Haul—A gravelly bottom was got for some distance after picking up at station 91. Close in to Eiverton Bar we got on to soft sand in 2£ fathoms, and the net was put down. Towed S.E. by S. f S. for an hour and a half. When hauled up the net contained 36 flounders, 7 soles, 97 red-cod, 1 ling, and a few dog- and elephant-fish. Soundings made in 15 and 16 fathoms showed a gravel bottom. Returned to the Bluff at 9.45 p.m.

2—H. 15a,