H.—ls

14

Drawings for each of these boilers were submitted for approval before a decision as to a workingpressure was arrived at. The whole of the moving machinery driven by steam plants has been thoroughly inspected for the employees' safety. Defective fittings in connection with boilers numbering 350 were discovered during the year, and 425 notices to have repairs made to boilers were given to owners. Districts and Inspections. Two new Inspectors and Surveyors were appointed during the year. Mr. D. Rankin was appointed on the 4th January, 1915, and Mr. S. N. Johnston on the 15th January, 1915. Mi. Johnston has been appointed permanently to assist the Wanganui District officer, and Mr. Rankin to permanently assist the Napier officer. It will be necessary to appoint another officer to permanently assist the officer at Hamilton. This district has grown very much of late, and long distances have to be covered. Assistance totalling six months has been rendered by officers to districts other than their own throughout the year. The natural increase in boilers and machinery last year easily provided work for two new Inspectors, and this year will be no exception, so far as I can see, judging by the amount of new machinery installed since the beginning of April. I have, <&0., Robert Duncan, Chief Inspector of Machinery, Chief Surveyor of Ships ; Chief Examiner of Marine Engineers, Land Engineers, and Engine-drivers. The Secretary, Marine and Inspection of Machinery Department.

The Chief Inspector of Fisheries to the Secretary, Marine Department. Sir, — Wellington, 4th June, 1915. 1 have the honour to supply the following report on the fisheries and the work curried out by me during the year ended the 3.lst March last. When I resumed my duties on the Ist April, on the expiration of my leave, I was engaged from that date until the 15th August making arrangements for and accompanying Professor Prince on his inspection tour of the fisheries of the Dominion. By instructions from the Hon. the Minister of Marine I met Professor Prince on his arrival at Auckland from. Vancouver on the 7th April, and accompanied him to Wellington by way of the Wanganui River. The Department decided to use the Government steamer " Hinemoa" to take Professor Prince on a sea cruise round the Dominion to enable him to inspect and test the various fishing-grounds. The vessel was fitted out with trawling-gear, dredges, &c, and also a supply of preservatives, and also jars and other receptacles for holding specimens, and was ready to begin the cruise on his arrival in Wellington, leaving there on the 14th April for- Lyttelton. The work of prospecting the fishing-grounds was commenced in, Pegasus Bay, off Lyttelton Heads, the following day, and from there the vessel worked south to Port Chalmers, testing the, various fishing-grounds on the way down. Mr. G. M. Thomson, Chairman of the Portobello Marine Fisheries Board, and Mr. Andcrton, Curator of the Portobello Marine Hatchery, joined the " Hinemoa "at Port Chalmers. Mr. Thomson remained on board until the work was finished as far south as Foveaux Strait, and Mr. Anderton continued on board throughout the cruise to assist Professor' Prince in collecting and sorting specimens. From Foveaux Strait the cruise was continued west to Te Waewae Bay, through the West ('oast Sounds, and up the west coast to Nelson, and from there through the Marlborough Sounds and Cook Strait to Wellington, arriving there on. the 30th April. During the cruise round the South Island twenty-eight hauls of the trawl-net were made, and. thirty-one shots of the dredge. The work of inspecting the fishing-grounds was resumed on the 4th May, when the " Hinemoa " left Wellington on her cruise round the North Island. Professor Prince remained on board until the vessel arrived at Auckland, where, owing to the limited time at his disposal, he was compelled to leave in order to commence an inspection of the lakes, rivers, and fish-hatcheries, and meet fishermen, fishsalesmen, members of Acclimatization Councils, and others interested in fish and fisheries at the various centres throughout the Dominion. The " Hinemoa " continued the work of inspecting the fishinggrounds from Auckland round the North Island, Captain Bollons directing the work, and Mr. Anderton collecting specimens and keeping the records of the work. Professor Prince commenced his overland tour through the Dominion the day he left the " Hinemoa " at Auckland (13th May), and we visited and held conferences with those interested in the fisheries generally at the following places : viz., Russell, Auckland, Thames, Tauranga, Rotorua, Okoroire, Taupo, Tokaanu, Napier, New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, Masterton, Wellington, Picton, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymouth, Hokitika, Christchuroh, Lake Ellesmere, Temuka, Timaru, Oamaru, Hakataramea, Moeraki, Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Invercargill, Bluff, Riverton, and Queenstown. We also made an inspection of some of the principal rivers and lakes in the following districts : viz., Southland (including Te Anau and Manapouri Lakes and their tributaries), Lake Wakatipu, Otago, Canterbury, Westland, Grey District, Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Wanganui, Hawera, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Taupo, Rotorua, and Waikato. Professor Prince also made an inspection of the rock-oyster beds in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands.