13

H.—lsa

One-hundred-and-fortieth Haul. —Sheltering in Port Hardy Inlet until the 30th. On that date we left the anchorage at 2.30 p.m. to cross to Wanganui. Tested the bottom at various depths on the way across, but the swell was too heavy to allow die net to be put down until well across. Twelve miles south of Wanganui the net was put down in 17 fathoms, on a fine gravel bottom, at 5 a.m., on the 31st May. Towed N.E. by B. fE. for an hour and a half. When taken up the net contained 1 John dory, 1 schnapper, 2 gurnard, 15 soles, and 10 tarakihi, and a quantity of old oyster-shells and sponges. One-hundred-and-forty-first Haul. —Steamed a short distance, and put down the net in 16 fathoms on a somewhat rough bottom, the lead bringing up sand and fine gravel. Towed two hours and a half N.N. W., and picked up in 11 fathoms, close up to the mouth of Wanganui Eiver, off a gravel bottom. The fish taken in this haul were 16 tarakihi, 2 soles, 2 lemon-soles, 1 gurnard, 1 schnapper, 1 red-cod, and 1 John dory. Went in to Wanganui for coal. One-hundred-and-forty-second Haul —Stormy weather prevented us getting out from Wanganui until the 4th June. On that date we left the wharf at 1 a.m., and after crossing the bar steamed W.S.W. for an hour. Soundings showed a rough bottom for some distance, but getting on to coarse sand in 12 fathoms the net was put down at 3 a.m. Towed fifteen minutes, when the net got fast, and was hauled up badly torn, and with several pieces of rock in the cod-end. One-hundred-and-forty-third Haul. —After taking up the damaged net at station 142 steamed W. by S. for half an hour into 14 fathoms, the lead showing a coarse sand bottom for some distance. The net was put down at 3.45 a.m. Towed for two hours, and picked up off coarse sand in fathoms. The fish taken were 18 lemon-soles, 17 tarakihi, 6 gurnard, 1 blue-cod, 1 John dory, 1 sea-perch, and one schnapper. One-hundred-and-forty-fourth Haul. —Steamed three-quarters of an hour from station 143, and put over the net in 13-J fathoms, at 6.30 a.m., on coarse sand. Towed W. by N. fN. for an hour, and picked up in 13-J- fathoms. The result of this haul was very poor, only giving 3 tarakihi, 2 gurnard, and 2 John dory. One-hundred-and-forty-fifth Haul. —Prom station 144 steamed into 7 fathoms, and put down the net at 8.30 a.m. on coarse sand. Towed a few minutes, when the net came fast, and was hauled up considerably damaged. One-hundred-and-forty-sixth Haul. —Steamed five miles, and after net and gear were repaired the net was put down once more. Soundings showing coarse sand we shot in 10 fathoms, and towed W. by B. f S. for half an hour, when the net again came fast, and was hauled up badly torn. A strong easterly breeze, with a nasty sea, getting up further trawling was out of the question on such a rough bottom. I decided to test the bottom by running a line of soundings from abreast of Patea, ten miles off shore, to fifteen miles off shore and abreast of Wanganui. Returned to Wanganui at 2.30 a.m. on the sth. One-hundred-and-forty-seventh Haul. —Left Wanganui at 3 a.m. on the 6th June, steamed down the coast ten miles. The lead showing a sand bottom the net was put over in 17 fathoms, four miles off shore, at 5.40 a.m. Towed S.E. by S. JS. for an hour and three-quarters, and hauled up in 15 fathoms. A good even sand bottom was found all the distance towed, yet the quantity of fish taken was very poor, the net only bringing up 17 lemon-soles, 4 gurnard, 1 John dory, and a small tiger-shark. One-hundred-and-forty-eighth Haul. — After picking up at station 147 steamed east into 11 fathoms, and put down the net at 9.15 a.m. on fine sand. Towed S.S.W. for an hour and ten minutes, and picked up in 12 fathoms. This haul was also a very poor one, the net coming up free from weeds, and only containing 5 lemon-soles and 12 gurnard. One-hundred-and-forty-ninth Haul. —The next haul was made off the Eangitikei Eiver. The net was put down in 8 fathoms, on soft sand, in muddy water (the river evidently being in flood). Towed S.S.E. for an hour and a quarter, and picked up in 9 fathoms; bottom soft sand. This haul was also a poor one, only giving 15 gurnard and 2 soles. One-hundred-and-fiftieth Haul. —-Continuing down the coast, the next haul was made off the Manawatu Eiver. The net was put down in 6 fathoms, bottom soft sand, at 1.35 p.m. Towed S. J- E. across the opening of the river for an hour and twenty minutes, and hauled up in 8 fathoms, containing 15 gurnard, 1 schnapper, 2 flounders, 6 soles, 12 small tiger-sharks, and a few elephantfish. One-hundred-and-fifty-first Haul. — After picking up at station 150 went closer in shore, and put down the net in 12 fathoms on soft sand at 3.15 p.m. Towed S.W. an hour and a quarter, and hauled up in 13 fathoms. The net came up clean and containing only 12 soles and 1 gurnard. One-hundred-and-fifty-second Haul. —-Went out into deeper water to see if better results could be obtained. The net was put over in 42 fathoms, on mud, at 4.30 p.m., and hauled up after towing an hour in 41 fathoms. The result of this haul was not any more satisfactory than what was obtained in shallower water coming down the coast. When taken up the net only contained 10 tarakihi, 2 lemon-soles, 2 megrims, and 4 gurnard. Anchored for the night off the Ohau Eiver. One-hundred-and-fifty-third Haul. —Left the anchorage at 6 a.m. on the 7th June. Steamed down the coast four miles, and put over the net on a fine sand bottom, in 5 fathoms, at 6.45 a.m. Towed S. by W. f W. across off the mouth of the Otaki Biver for an hour and a half, and hauled up in llf fathoms. This haul proved a blank, as the net came up clean with neither fish nor weeds. One-hundred-and-fifty-fourth Haul. — This was the last haul made. The net was put over in 12 fathoms, at 10 a.m., on soft sand, between Kapiti Island and the mainland. Towed S.W. by S. -J- S. for an hour and five minutes, and hauled up in 18 fathoms off fine sand. This was also a poor haul, the net only bringing up 11 lemon-soles and 1 skate. After testing the bottom off KapiEi we left for Wellington, arriving there at 10.30 a.m.