H.-15

12

whalcboat " Clara M," and line-fishing was carried on at all depths, from sto 90 fathoms. Large numbers of groper were taken with well-developed eggs; numbers of perfectly ripe males were also taken, but I failed to secure a female with perfectly ripe eggs. The tow-net was freely used, but the contents did not disclose the presence of any eggs of this size, and it is very probable that they will be found to be demersal, or adhesive, and not like most marine species, floating on the surface at the mercy of the tides and winds. A few blue-cod larva? were hatched during 1905 from eggs collected from the ponds wherein a number of adults were confined during that season, but this is the first occasion on which the eggs have been stripped from wild fish, and drawings were accordingly taken of the eggs, and of the larv:e during development, up to the age of seventeen days (drawings enclosed). Conclusion. In conclusion, I would beg to point out the inadvisability of attempting to introduce other species of European fishes until the number of ponds has been increased, preferably hj subdividing the present ones. The best season in which to undertake this work would be immediately after the lobster and crab hatching ceases in January, as there follows a period of about five months of enforced comparative idleness as far as fish-hatching is concerned. The cost of the extra walls and the importation of the fish would be non-recurring, and a much larger and more varied stock could be kept without an increased annual expenditure. I have, &c, The Chairman, Marine Fish Hatchery Board. T. Anderton.

Larvæ liberated during 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1909.

Explanation of Plate. Fig. I. Egg of JHue-coAl(Para/percis colias) 24 hours after fertilisation, at 7°C. 11. „ „ 40 „ „ 7-4° C. „ 111. „ „ 88 „ „ 7°C. IV. „ „ 116 „ „ 7°C. ~ V. Larva of Blue-cod (Parapercis colias), newly hatched. „ VI. „ „ 4 days after hatching. „ VII. „ „ 10 „ VIII. „ „ 15

Name of Fish. 1905. 1906. 1908. 1909. Total. _j Flounder (Rhombosolea monopus and taperina) Lemon sole . . Sole (Peltorhamphus novm - zealandice) Brill olurnard (Trigla humu) Blue-cod (Parapercis colias) Prawn (Palcemon affines) Crayfish. (Jasus edivardsii) Lobster (Homarus vulgarus) Crab (Cancer pagurus) 562,000 217,000 123,000 902,000 59,000 3,000 2,747,000 335,000 62,000 3,082,000 5,000 5,000 698,000 5,000 7,000,000 313,000 16,000 2,275,000 99.360 10,500,000 318,000 5,000 21,000 698,000 9,275,000 135,360 17,000,000 36,000 6,500,000 Totals 1,329,000 9,972,000 6,536,000 13,661,360 31,498,360