11

H.—lsa

One-hundred-and-eighth Haul. —After taking coal and water the " Doto " left Nelson at 11 a.m. on the 17th May to prospect the eastern side of Tasman Bay. The lead showing a mud bottom the net was put down for the first time five miles north of the lighthouse and two miles off shore, in 9 fathoms at 12.45 p.m. Towed N.B fN. for an hour and twenty minutes, and picked up off the same bottom in 12-J- fathoms. The fish taken in this haul were 5 flounders, 1 John dory, 6 lemonsoles, 200 gurnard, 2 red-cod, and several dozen oysters. One-hundred-and-ninth Haul. —Steamed three-quarters of an hour from station 108, and shot the net off Wakapuaka Bay, in 13 fathoms, at 3 p.m.; bottom blue mud. Towed for an hour N.B. by N. £ N., and picked up in 14 fathoms, the net containing 36 lemon-soles, 5 flounders, 2 megrims, 2 John dory, 150 gurnard, 1 ling, 18 red-cod, and a bucketful of oysters. One-hundred-and-tenth Haul. —The net was put down abreast of Graham Point and distant from shore three miles and a half, in 15 fathoms, on a mud bottom, at 4.25 p.m. Towed an hour and twenty minutes N. f W., and picked up in 16 fathoms abreast of the Croisilles Harbour. The result of this haul was 125 gurnard, 25 lemon-soles, 4 schnapper, 1 John dory, and 2 dog-fish. Dropped anchor in the Croisilles Harbour at 7.30 p.m. One-hundred-and-ehventh Haul. —Left anchorage in Croisilles Harbour at 5.30 a.m. The net was put down two miles to the north of Jules Island, in 20 fathoms, on a mud bottom, at 6.40 a.m. Towed N. f W. across the opening of the Current Basin, and hauled up at 8 o'clock in 23 fathoms, the net containing 42 lemon-soles, 20 gurnard, 1 blue-cod, 4 dozen oysters, and a large quantity of shells. One-hundred-and-twelfth Haul. —Steamed N. by B. five miles from station 111, and put down the net on a mud bottom, in 26 fathoms, at 9.10 a.m., the position being two miles south of Greville Harbour and distant four miles from D'Urville Island. Towed N. ■§ W. for an hour, and hauled up in 27-J- fathoms. This was a very poor haul, the net only bringing up a few megrims and small gurnard. One-hundred-and-thirteenth Haul. —From station 112 we "steamed N. by W. for an hour and a half, and put down the net in 36 fathoms, on a clean sand bottom, at 12 o'clock. Towed N. JW. for forty minutes, and hauled up in 37 fathoms, the net coming up clean, free from weeds, and only containing 18 lemon-soles and 4 megrims. One-hundred-and-fourteenth Haul. —After picking up at station 113 steamed W. by S. for two hours and a half. The net was put down in 27 fathoms, on a clean sand bottom, at 3.20 p.m., and towed for an hour B.S.E. When hauled up in 28 fathoms the net only contained a few shells. Soundings with the lead between stations 113 and 114 showed a clean sand bottom all the way. One-hundred-and-fifteenth Haul. —A short distance from station 114 the dredge was put down and towed a few minutes; when hauled up it was full of sticky blue mud. Steamed E.S.E. ten miles, and put down the net in 33 fathoms, on a mud bottom, at 5 p.m. Towed B.E. by B. -J- B. for forty-five minutes, and hauled up in 34 fathoms, the net bringing up 13 lemon-soles, 2 blue-cod, 4 tarakihi, a few oysters, and a quantity of coral and shells. One-hundred-and-sixteenth Haul. —Altered the course from station 115 to S.W., and steamed ten miles. The net was put over in 27 fathoms, on a mud bottom, at 7.5 p.m., and towed S.W. by S. for three-quarters of an hour. When taken up in 26 fathoms it only contained 21 tarakihi and 3 megrims, and free from weed and shells. One-hundred-and-sevanteenth Haul. —From station 116 the course was altered to S.B. Steamed an hour, and put down the net at 8.45 p.m., in 26 fathoms, on mud. Towed S.E. -J-B. for two hours, and hauled up in 26 fathoms, off mud. The fish taken in this haul were 11 schnapper, 1 groper, 5 lemon-soles, and 1 megrim. One-hu?idred-and-eighteenth Haul. —Changed the course again to S.W., and steamed an hour and twenty minutes, when the net was put down in 20 fathoms, on mud, at 12.10 a.m. Towed for two hours S.E. £ 8., and hauled up in 16 fathoms, the result being 9 schnapper, 23 John dory, 31 soles, 18 flounders, 125 gurnard, 1 megrim, and 50 red-cod. One-hundred-and-nineteenth Haul. —Shot again in 16 fathoms, on mud, at 2.30 a.m. Towed S.W. -J W. for two hours, and picked up in 11-J fathoms. The result of this haul proved satisfactory both as regards variety and quantity of fish, giving the following numbers : 16 soles, 12 flounders, 4 hake, 26 John dory, 23 red-cod, 9 schnapper, 113 gurnard, 2 dozen oysters, and a number of sting-rays, dog-fish, and octopi. One-hundred-and-twentieth Haul. —The net was put over for another haul in 11 fathoms, on mud bottom, at 4.55 a.m. Another two-hour haul was made, towing S.E. f S., and picked up in 7 fathoms at 6.55 a.m. The fish taken were 14 hake, 4 John dory, 26 flounders, 6 soles, 7 schnapper, 107 gurnard, 12 red-cod, and 3 dozen oysters, besides a quantity of shells. One-hundred-and-twenty-first Haul. —The net was put over for the last haul before returning to port at 7.15 a.m., in 7 fathoms, on mud, and towed W. by N. J N. for an hour and threequarters. The net was hauled up in 7-J- fathoms, and contained 3 haks, 300 gurnard, 10 soles, 3 flounders, 4 John dory, 3 schnapper, 6 red-cod, 4f dozen oysters, and shells and weeds. One-hundred-and-twenty-second Haul. —North-east storm on the 20th and 21st May, with heavy sea, in Tasman Bay. We left Port Nelson at 1 a.m. on the 22nd to prospect off Farewell Spit and in Golden Bay. Soundings to the south of Farewell Spit showed the bottom to be soft sand and mud. The net was put down in 13 fathoms on mud, well up to the end of the spit. Towed about W. by S. for two hours, and hauled up in 14 fathoms. When landed on deck the net was half-full of sea-wrack, but with very few fish. 26 lemon-soles, 2 megrims, 2 schnapper, 2 gurnard, and 12 tarakihi were all that could be found amongst the mass of weed. One-hundred-and-tiventy-third Haul. — After picking up at station 122 steamed west for half and hour, and put down the net in 17 fathoms on mud. Towed W. by N. J N. for forty minutes, and hauled up in 5 J fathoms. The net again contained a large quantity of sea-wrack, from which we sorted out 35 lemon-soles, 5 megrims, 10 gurnard, and 2 red-cod. One-hundred-and-twenty-fourth Haul. — Steamed half an hour after picking up the net at