H.—ls.

12

I remained at Te Anau until the lOth, and, its the eggs showed no sign of injury from their rough overland journey, and had commenced to hatch, 1 left on that date for Hakataramea and Wellington. As already stilted, the fishery officers in Canada (considering the age at which the eggs were packed) expected a loss during the journey to New Zealand of nearly 50,000. However, by the extra care exercised by the man in charge, the total loss only amounted to about 10,000, so thai the quantity landed was about 140,000 eggs in good condition. I made an examination of several creeks at Te Anau, and decided that the best place to liberate the young fish this season is in one tine creek which Hows into the Ipokororo River. This creek takes its rise from large springs, and flows down through the river-flat for some miles before joining the rivers. It is full of natural feed, and does not flood to any extent, and I consider thai the young tish put there will be about as safe as in protected ponds. The hatchery now at Te Anau is splendidly situated for dealing with imported salmon or trout eggs, and if the importation of Atlantic-salmon eggs is persevered with, and large quantities imported every year for a few years, I have no doubt about the success of establishing these valuable tish in the Waiau River. 1 have, <fcc, L. F. Atson, The Secretary, Marine Department. Wellington. Chief Inspector of Fisheries. Thk Mahixk Encivkkii to the Skchktaky, Marine Department. Public Works Department, Wellington, N.Z., 13th June, l!»os. Report on Workt m Hand. l,ii/lithnns(, <;<><llty Head. —The outhouses, workshop and stable, and porches of the keeper's dwelling arc just about completed. The track leading down to the fog-signal site has been formed. The weight well is neailv completed. The site for the fog-signal has been excavated. Materials for the hand-rails along the track are being carried on to the ground. The excavation for the magazine is proceeding. The landing-jetty requires some repairs, as the concrete blocks supporting the struts have become loosened and displaced by the seas. 1 have accordingly given instructions to have the necessary repairs carried out. C/ij/f Brett Lighthouse. —The timber for the cottages is now being cut at the Government mil! on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and as cut is being forwarded to Auckland, so as to be stacked for seasoning in readiness ten transport to the cape when required. Materials'for the tram«ay are also being obtained, and plans are being prepared for the whim required at the top of the tramway, also for the support of the landing-jetty. Tuahiiit Paint Lighthouse. —Awaiting arrival of tower from England. Jackson's Head Beacon. —Awaiting arrival of apparatus from England. Buoys. —Plans are now completed of the buoys required, and tenders will be invited for their construction shortly. R. \V. Holmes, The Secretary, Marine Department. Marine Engineer.

The Chief [nbpbctob ok PIBBBRIES to the Skcretaht, Marine Department. Sih,— Wellington, 12th June, 1908. 1 have the honour to report as follows with regard to the collection of quinii at -salmon eggs and the run of these fish this season in the Waitaki River and its tributaries. As instructed, I left for Hakat aramca on the 25th May to assist in the collection of eggs and make as full inquiry as possible abrfut the run of salmon. On arrival at Hakataramea OH the 27th 1 found that a lot of spawning salmon had been running up during the two previous weeks, but owing to the rise in the Hakataramea River and the slimy condition of the river-bed it was impossible to hold wire-netting pound nets, or to use drag nets, and during the time the best run of fish was on it was only possible to rapture a few fish by means of long-handled landing-nets. The river had gone down sufficiently a few days before my arrival to allow another pound net to be put in, and a few good tish were being got in the net, and there were about 25,000 salmon-eggs in the boxes. Finding that gome Large fish were coming in from the Waitaki River at night and spawning at the mouth of the Hakataramea, a wire-netting stop-fence was run across, and by leaving a section of the fence open at night, and closing it down before daylight every morning, we were able to cut these fish off from the Waitaki and have them enclosed between the fence and the pound net. In this way we \\t'\-v able to capture several good fish. Aβ stated above, the best run of salmon took place during the rise in the river before I arrived at the hatchery, and it was evident that the main " run " for the season had gone up, and from the ripe condition of the fish taken that it was getting well on to the end of the salmon-spawning season. When I left Hakataramea on the Ist instant there were about 50,000 eggs in the boxes. These are of splendid quality, and, male fish being plentiful, a large percentage was fertilised. In size and appearance they are exactly like those imported from California. They are about onethird larger than brown-trout eggs, and of a deep-red colour.