9

H.—lsb

Station 142 : From last station steamed out on a N.W. course for 3 miles, and shot for another haul in 41 fathoms, on a good sand bottom, at 9.45 a.m., Teremakau River bearing E. J N., 5| miles. Towed on a N. x W. course for 6 miles, and hauled up in 45 fathoms from good bottom at 11 a.m. This haul gave a very good variety of fish, but the quantity was poor. F Station 143 : Steamed inshore from last station and shot for the next haul at 11.40 a.m. in 25 fathoms, bottom sand, Greymouth bearing N.E. xE. § E., 7| miles. Towed on a north-easterly course for an hour and a half, and hauled up in 25 fathoms, 3 miles west of the entrance to Grey River. This haul was similar to the others made to-day, giving a fair variety but poor quantity of fish. Station 144 : After hauling up at last station, steamed out about 3 miles, and shot for the next haul in 30 fathoms, sand bottom, at 1.45 p.m., Greymouth bearing E. xN. J N., 5f miles. Towed 4 miles on a north-easterly course, and hauled up in 20 fathoms. This haul gave better results as regards quantity than any to-day. Station 145 : Shot for the last haul to-day at 3.15 p.m. in 23 fathoms, good sand bottom, Elizabeth Point bearing E.S.E. Towed on an easterly course for 3 miles, then altered to N. xE. Hauled up in 17 fathoms at 4.30 p.m., Elizabeth Point bearing S.E. J E., 3 miles. This haul gave very poor results, the only fish in the net when hauled up were 2 schnapper, 7 soles, 1 ling, 9 gurnard, 7 macrurus, and a few dogfish and skate. After hauling up steamed out about 10 miles, and lay-to for the night. September 22. —Station 146 : As the weather was fine, but with low glass and indications of approaching bad weather, the men agreed to work to-day on the understanding that they got a day off when the vessel arrived at Wellington in exchange for this Sunday. Sounded at 6.15 a.m., and finding 82 fathoms the net was shot and towed out to over 100 fathoms and back to 85 fathoms. In shooting the net at 82 fathoms the position was Elizabeth Point bearing E. J N., 11 miles ; at 100 fathoms, Elizabeth Point bearing E. x S., 13 miles ; and at hauling up, Elizabeth Point bearing E.S.E., 12 miles. Throughout the haul soft bottom was experienced, and only deep-water fish were taken— viz., hapuka, ling, kingfish, tarakihi, and macrurus. Station 147; After hauling up at last station steamed on an E. xN. course for 4 miles to get shallower water, and shot for the next haul in 41 fathoms, soft-sand bottom, at 9 a.m. Towed on a N.E. course for 6J miles, and hauled up in 28 fathoms. When net shot Elizabeth Point bore S.E. J E., 10 miles, and in hauling, S.E. J E., 10 miles. Result of this haul was poor. Station 148 : Steamed 6 miles after hauling up at last station N. x E., arriving at a position 2| miles W. xS. of Razorback. Shot the net at 11.15 a.m. in 29 fathoms, bottom dark sand. Hauled up at 1 p.m. in 25 fathoms, Perpendicular Point bearing N.E. \E. Result, a very small quantity of fish. Station 149 : From last station steamed N.W., 5 miles, and shot for the next haul at 2 p.m. in 25 fathoms, dark-sand bottom. Towed N. x W., 5 miles, and hauled up in 24 fathoms. Result again very poor. Station 150 : After hauling up at last station steamed N.E. x E. for 5 miles, and shot for the last haul at 3.50 p.m., Charleston bearing S.E. x E. \ E., 4| miles, depth 22 fathoms, and dark-sand bottom. Towed an hour and a half on a N.W. course, and hauled up in 24 fathoms, Charleston bearing E.S.E., 8|- miles. This was a very poor haul both as to quantity and variety of fish. Lay-to for the night. September 23. —Station 151 : The net was put over for the first haul to-day at 6.30 a.m., 13 miles N.W. of Cape Foulwind, in 50 fathoms, bottom sand. Towed 5 miles on a S.E. course, and hauled up in 55 fathoms at 8 a.m. Result, a fair quantity of red-cod, kingfish, tarakihi, and soles. Station 152 : After hauling up at last station steamed inshore, inside the Steeples, and shot for another haul at 8.30 a.m. Towed 6 miles N.E. | E., and hauled 2| miles off the entrance of the Buller River. The quantity of fish taken in this haul was rather poor. The fish included a number of soles and brill of splendid quality. After hauling up, went into Westport to coal, water, and land fish. September 24. —Station 153 : Left Westport at 11 a.m. to test the deep water of Karamea, and then on to Farewell Spit. Weather thick, with strong N.E. wind and low glass. Steamed 25 miles N.E. of Westport entrance, and sounded : depth 52 fathoms, and good bottom. Put over the net at 3 p.m. Hauled up at 4 p.m., Karamea Beacon bearing E. x N., \\\ miles. This haul gave a fair quantity of kingfish, with a few soles, schnapper, and tarakihi. Station 154 : Steamed N.E. from last station, and shot for another short haul at 4.30 p.m. Depth 58 fathoms, sand bottom, Heaphy River bearing E. xN. |N. Towed three-quarters of an hour, and hauled up as the weather was bad. Result, very few fish. After hauling up, steamed up the coast, intending, if weather favourable, to work off Wanganui Inlet; but when we arrived off there the weather was so bad that we had to steam on round Cape Farewell, arriving off Farewell Spit at 4 a.m. September 25. • —Weather very bad with heavy sea, and gale blowing, with low glass. Several soundings were taken, the depth varying from 33 to 36 fathoms. At 8 a.m. it was decided to run for Tasman Bay to shelter. Experienced a very heavy sea until well in to Separation Point. Arrived in Awaroa Bay at 1 p.m. Four other steamers came in for shelter shortly after our aarival. September 26. —At anchor in Totaranui Bay. Weather very stormy, strong gale, with heavy sea outside, glass low. September 27. —Station 155 : Weather clearing. Left anchorage in Totaranui Bay at 7 a.m., and made out to try and locate a hapuka-bank which was reported to exist about 3 miles off. Put over the net at 8 a.m. in 19 fathoms, mud bottom, Totaranui Bay bearing W. xN. § N., 3 miles. Towed an hour and a half, and hauled up in 18 fathoms, mud bottom. Result, a fair haul of schnapper, soles, tarakihi, gurnard, red-cod, and 11 blue-cod.

2—H. 15b.