H.—lsb

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Victoria. — (a.) Portion done by Department and portion by acclimatization society, subsidized by Government, (b.) Portion done by Department and portion by acclimatization society, subsidized by Government, (c.) No license charged. New South Wales. — (a.) and (b.) All done by Fisheries Department, (c.) No license charged. Queensland. —Work has been abandoned, but a new society in North-west Queensland has lately imported some trout-ova through the State Agricultural Department. South Australia. —No hatcheries being worked departmentally. No license fees. Western Australia. — (a.) Acclimatization society. No hatcheries and no license charged. 11. What system of oyster preservation and cultivation is adopted ? Please give particulars with regard to oyster leases. England.— -Refer us to Oyster, Crab, and Lobster Act of 1877, sections 5, 8, 9, and 10. Scotland. —No information given re oysters ; refer us to same Act as above. Ireland. —No information. Canada. —No information. Victoria. —Experimenting at present. Neio South Wales. —Lessees cultivate their leases by laying out shell, &c. Leases granted for average, special, and inferior lands. Minimum rent not less than £5 per annum. Queensland. —Large areas set aside as reserves to conserve brood oysters for distribution of spat. A comprehensive system of cultivation in force ; particulars given in Oyster Act and Regulations. Copies sent. South Australia. —Oyster-cultivation in its infancy, and experiments being conducted. Western Australia. —Little if any cultivation of oysters is undertaken. The following is a resume of the reply received to my letter of the 29th November, 1912, addressed to the authorities controlling the fishing industry at Cape Town : — 1. How are the fisheries administered —whether directly by the Department of Agriculture eras a division of that Department ? The fishing industry is administered by the Department of the Administrator. 2. What staff of officers are employed in connection with the fisheries— (a) at the Head Office, (b) in connection with scientific-research work (c) at the various fishing ports and markets, and (d) in connection with the salmon and other fresh-water fisheries ? (a.) At headquarters the work is dealt with by the administration staff generally. A Fishery Advisory Board, consisting of seven members and a secretary, meets periodically, and submits recommendations to the Department. (6.) Scientific-research work is carried on at a marine biological station by Dr. Gilchrist, the Government Fisheries Advisor, (c.) A fisheries officer, with headquarters at Cape Town, visits the different ports and fishing-stations periodically, (d.) Government hatcheries are under the charge of Curator. 3. Please forward copies of the Sea Fisheries and Salmon Fisheries Acts, and also be good enough to state whether there are any special protective laws in foree — (a) with regard to closing any areas to fishing round any part of the coasts, (b) fixing a minimum size-limit at which certain fishes may be taken and marketed, and (c) limiting the size of mesh of nets used in certain kinds of fishing ? (a.) Fishing in particular areas along the coast is regulated by defining areas within which certain methods of fishing are allowed, (b.) Minimum size-limit for certain fish in force, (c.) The size of the mesh of nets is fixed by regulation. 4. What fishery encouragement laws are in force— (a) as regards giving financial assistance to fishermen, (b) prospecting and giving out information with regard to the fishing-grounds, (c) providing instruction in fish-curing or in any other branch of the industry, and (d) whether any bounty is given in connection with fish curing or canning or on the production of fish-oil or any other fish product ? (a.) No direct financial assistance given, to fishermen, but Government assist them by improving boat-landings, &c. (b.) No prospecting done at present, but a great amount of valuable fishery-exploration work was done by the Government-owned trawler " Pieter Faure " from 1897 to 1906. (o.) No instruction given in fish-curing, (d.) No bounties given on , quantities of cured and canned fish, or on the production of fish-oil or any other product. 5. If loans are granted to fishermen to assist them in procuring suitable boats and gear, on what terms are the advances made, and how does the Department secure itself against loss ? 5. No advances made to fishermen to buy boats, gear, &c. 6. With regard to the construction and working of fish-markets, are they erected and controlled by the Department or by the municipal authorities in the principal cities ? 6. Fish-markets are erected and controlled by the municipal authorities. 7. What facilities are provided by the Railway authorities for the transport of fresh fish throughout the country ? 7. Fish is carried at a very much lower rate than other foodstuffs. 8. What system of collecting fishery statistics is adopted, and has it proved quite satisfactory ? Please forward some of the forms in use. 8. The collection of fishery statistics has always been a matter of great difficulty, owing to the difficulty in getting fishermen to render correct returns of the catches. 9. Does the Government own any other fishing-Vessels besides the " Pieter Faure " and, if so, are they employed fishing for market in competition with privately owned vessels ; and does the " Pieter Faure," besides doing exploration work, fish for market as well ? 9. The Government does not own any fishing-vessels at present. The trawler " Pieter Faure " is no longer used as such.