H.—lsb.

[O. T. SULLIVAN.

Mr. Traill: I have never been informed by the fishermen that there is any check being made by the fish-merchants, until suddenly they go to the Government and ask them to raise the minimum, and Mr. Crocket is now calmly suggesting to the Commissioners that the Government should do the work and check their fish. Mr. Hansen : You have never made any complaint to us about the fish. Mr. Crocket : There are certain fishermen, Mr. Hansen, that there is no necessity to make complaints to. There are others that you have to suffer for. Mr. Hansen : You never complained to us about them being small, and yet the restrictions are blocked on to us now. Mr. McClure: Mr. Crocket, your suggestion was 11 in. green; that would be 9 in. headed, in length ? Mr. Crocket : I will bo quite prepared to accept 8 in. in length headed and gutted. Mr. McClure: Eight inches headed, Mr. Crocket : that would mean 10 in. in the green natural state ? Mr. Crocket : Somewhere about that, sir, I think. Mr. McClure : Would that be acceptable to the fish-merchants ? Mr. Crocket: Yes, as long as the fish are headed in a proper manner, sir. Mr. Ayson : I understood you to say 11 in. green, Mr. Crocket ? Mr. Crocket : Yes, L judge that would be the basis on which an 8 in. cleaned and headed fish would go —somewhere about that ; but if you got an 8 oz. cod and headed and gutted it you could find the weight from that. Mr. Ayson : I think it would be rather a good idea if there could be an agreement with regard to size between the fishermen and the fish-merchants. Mr. Crocket: There is not a great deal between the two parties now, is there, sir ? Mr. McClure : It seems to me there is nothing. If the fish-merchants will take an 8 in. cleaned fish, well that means practically 10 in. not headed. Mr. Crocket : Yes, I think it is about a fair thing. Mr. Stirling : On behalf of Riverton I think the same thing, and I do not think there is much difference between Mr. Traill and the rest of us. Mr. Traill: The fishermen are quite agreeable to 8 in. headed and 10 in. with the head on? [Practical demonstration of how head should be taken off.] Mr. Ayson : Mr. Traill, would the fishermen make any concession in the length which they have suggested—that is, will they stretch a -point ? Mr. Traill: I think they are inclined to stick to the 10 in. lemgth for the green fish. Mr. Ayson : Taking 2 in. off for the head seems to be rather more than the head does actually take away according to measurements we have made here. Mr. Traill: That would mean 8| in. headed ? Mr. McClure : That would be an 8 oz. fish ? Mr. Crocket: No, sir, Mr. Ayson : Below ? Mr. Crocket : Below 8 oz. Mr. McClure : A 10 in. fish as caught would weigh 8 oz. Mr. Traill: Yes. Mr. McClure : Are the fish-merchants agreeable to that—to an 8 oz. fish ? Mr. Crocket: We think it should be a little higher. Mr. McClure : Every one seems to agree that the length-limit is the best. Mr. Crocket: I think 11 in. in length is quite small enough, sir. Mr. Hansen : Go 10i in. and split the difference. Mr. Ayson : 10| in. ; that would mean 9 in. headed : I !, in. for the head ? Mr. Jensen : 9 in. headed. Mr. A.yson : \Q\ in. green. Mr. Crocket : Provided they are properly headed. Mr. Pasco : Some of them leave the eyes in. Mr. McClure : Are you agreeable, fishermen, to 10J in. ? Mr. Traill: The fishermen agree to 10i in. and 9 in. headed. Mr. Roderique : We will be satisfied with that as long as the fish are headed properly. They must take more than the lip and the eyes off. Mr. Ayson : Would you specify what taking the head off means ? Mr. Pasco : The eyes must not be showing. Cut off at the back of the eyes. Mr. McClure : Well, gentlemen, I suppose you have nothing further to say in the matter. Mr. Ayson and I will , repare our report, and I think this suggestion of \o\ in. and 9 in. should meet the case. We thank you for your attendance, and if there are any other matters outside the regulations of blue-cod we will sit here this afternoon and take evidence. Approximate Cost of Paper. Preparation, not given ; printing (1,200 copies), £7.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.--1912. Price (id.

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