H.—lsb.

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Station 178 : From last station steamed 5 miles S. x E., and shot the net at 12 noon, 4 miles S.S.E. from Little Barrier, depth 28 fathoms, bottom mud and sand. Hauled up 4J miles W. \S. of the Little Barrier in 28 fathoms, bottom coral and shell. This was also a short haul, and the results were as poor as the previous one. Station 179 : From station 178 steamed south, 5 miles, and shot the net at 2 p.m. 6 miles N.N.E. from Flat Rock in 29 fathoms, bottom sand and shell. Towed an hour and twenty minutes S. x W., and hauled up in 29 fathoms from a sand-and-shell bottom. Good trawling-bottom was experienced with this haul, and the result was a decided improvement, both as regards quantity and variety of market-fish. Station 180 : The net was shot for the last haul to-day at 3.40 p.m., 3 miles N.E. x E from Flat Rock, depth 29 fathoms, sand-and-shell bottom. Soundings indicating rocky bottom, the net was hauled up after towing three-quarters of an hour. The result of this haul was very good for the short time the net was down, yielding 300 schnapper, 80 John-dory, and a number of other market-fish. After hauling up at 4.25 p.m. we steamed a course for Auckland for the purpose of taking Captain McAlister on board. October 19.—Lying alongside Auckland wharf landing fish and repairing net. October 20.—Left Auckland at midnight for an extended cruise north. October 21.—Station 181 : Arrived to the west of the Little Barrier at 7.30 a.m., when the net was put over for the first haul, 4 miles W. x S. \ S. of Little Barrier Island, depth 31 fathoms, bottom sand and shell. Towed 4J miles N.N.W., and hauled up at 9.5 a.m. from 30 fathoms, sand-and-shell bottom. The result of this haul was very poor. Station 182 : After hauling up at the last station steamed 17 miles in a north-westerly direction, and shot the net at 12.15 p.m., 2 miles N.E. x N. from the outer island of Hen and Chickens, depth 50 fathoms, mud-and-shell bottom. Towed 4 miles N.W. § W., and hauled up at 1.15 p.m. in 55 fathoms, mud-and-shell bottom. The result of this haul being poor as regards quantity. The market-fish were represented by John-dory, kingfish, moki, tarakihi, gurnard, and schnapper. As the steamer had to return to Auckland for cleaning boilers and coaling before going round the North Cape to work the west coast, I decided, in order to make the most of the time at my disposal on the east coast, to go as far north as necessary and work back, and therefore, after hauling up at station 182, we steamed north, calling at Russell on the way. October 22.—Station 183. Left Russell at 6 a.m. for Great Exhibition Bay, near the North Cape. Arrived there and shot the net at 3 p.m. in 32 fathoms, the soundings made showing sand and shell; but the net had only been towed ten minutes when it fouled, and. when hauled up it was found that the foot-rope was cut through, showing plainly that it had come in contact with rocky bottom. Station 184 : Soundings taken in the vicinity of the last haul showing rough bottom, we steamed in a westerly direction 6 miles, and shot the net in 34 fathoms, on a sand bottom, at 4.35 p.m. Towed an hour and hauled up from 30 fathoms, bottom sand and shell. This haul yielded poor results, and after taking in the net we anchored for the night. October 23.—Station 185 : Upheaving the anchor, we steamed inshore for 2 miles, and shot the net at 7.45 a.m. in 23 fathoms, on a clean sand bottom. Towed S.E. JE. and hauled up at 9.10 a.m., 15 fathoms, sand-and-mud bottom. This haul yielded very good results, giving a large haul of tarakihi, moki, schnapper, and maumau. Station 186 : After hauling up at the last station, steamed an hour N.N.W., and shot net at 10.40 a.m. in 14 fathoms, bottom white sand. Towed 5 miles N.N.W., and hauled up at 12.5 p.m. in 9 fathoms from hard-sand bottom. This haul also yielded very good results, consisting of schnapper, tarakihi, trevalli, and a large quantity of moki. Station 187 : After hauling up from station 186, went closer inshore, and shot the net for the third haul to-day in 9 fathoms, hard-sand bottom, at 12.20 p.m. Towed N.N.W. an hour and forty miuntes, and hauled up in 7 fathoms, bottom hard sand, 3 miles S.S.E. of Coal Point and abreast of Parengarenga Harbour. This haul was poor. Station 188 : After hauling up at last station, steamed down the coast 5 miles, and shot the net 6 miles S.E. \S. from Coal Point at 2.25 p.m., depth 11 fathoms, hard-sand bottom. Towed S.E. two hours and twenty-five minutes, and hauled, up in 17 fathoms, hard-sand bottom. This was a good haul both as regards quantity and quality of fish. Steamed south to Ohora Bay, and anchored for the night. October 24.—Station 189 : Hove up the anchor in Ohora Bay at 6.30 a.m., and steamed offshore into 11 fathoms. Shot the net at 7.30 a.m., lead showing hard-sand bottom. Towed for half an hour, when the net fouled, and was hauled up badly torn and foot-rope carried away. Catch here was also poor. Several soundings were taken out to deeper water; but, the bottom being too rough for safe trawling, we decided to steam south to Doubtless Bay. Station 190 : Arrived off Doubtless Bay 11.10 a.m., and mud bottom being found in 55 fathoms, the net was shot and towed E. xS. for two hours and ten minutes, and hauled up in 50 fathoms. This haul yielded fair results, principally tarakihi. Station 191: After hauling up from station 190 several soundings were taken, and showed a risky bottom, so we steamed south 17 miles, and shot the net at 4.30 p.m. off Takau Bay in 35 fathoms, bottom fine sand. Towed S.E. 2 miles, and hauled up from the same depth and character of bottom as we shot in. This was a very poor haul as regards fish-taking : the net came up with large quantities of marine vegetation. After hauling up we steamed into Russell, and anchored for the night. October 25, —Station 192 : Left Russell wharf at 6 a.m., and arrived off Whale Rock, Bay of Islands, at 7.30. The net was shot for the first haul to-day 2 miles N.N.W. of Whale Rock buoy; depth 40 fathoms, and a mud bottom. Towed north an hour and ten minutes when, the soundings showing