H.—ls

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at a reasonable price. The Auckland Municipal Council has extended its market, and also increased its catching-power by the purchase of an up-to-date trawler. This vessel was specially built for trawling, and it has clearly demonstrated the superiority of a vessel so built, for fishing by being able to work farther afield in deep water and stay out in any weather. I include in this report a summary of the information contained in the annual reports received from the Collectors of Customs and Inspectors of Fisheries at the various fishing-ports; also tables showing the number of fishing-boats licensed during the year, the number of fishermen employed, &c., and approximately the total quantity and value of fish caught and marketed. The following is a summary of the information supplied by Collectors of Customs and Inspectors of Fisheries in their reports for the year: — Russell. —The supply of market fish during the past, year has been exceedingly good; mullet, and schnapper have been particularly plentiful. With the exception of crayfish only a small quantity of other fish has been sent to the Auckland market during the past year, the principal market being Whangarei and inland towns and settlements, where there is a large and increasing demand for both fresh and smoked fish. Hokianga. —The usual fish caught on the local fishing-grounds has been plentiful. All the fish caught are sold locally. Whangarei. —The catch of fish for the year shows a considerable increase on the quantitytaken in 1916, fish of all kinds being plentiful. Kaipara. —The Inspector reports all kinds of fish usually caught on the local fishing-grounds have been plentiful, but there is considerable falling-of! in the quantity of fish taken owing to the trawlers on the Auckland fishing-grounds supplying that market with all kinds of fish in very large quantities. On account of the decrease in the demand for the Kaipara fish for the Auckland market, more than half the fishermen have given up fishing and taken to other employment, the number of fishing-boats licensed for the year being twenty-three, as against forty in 1916. The mulletcanning industry has also fallen off considerably, only 6,000 dozen being canned during the year. Auckland District (Hauraki Gulf). —All kinds of market fish have been plentiful, and immense quantities have been brought in to the Auckland market, by the five trawlers which are now working from Auckland. The market has been fully supplied, and on this account, and the keen competition between the owners of the trawlers, fish have been sold at a much lower price than formerly. The line and net fishermen have not been ablo to compete with the trawlers, and consequently most of them have had to dispose of their boats and seek other employment. The oyster-beds generally are looking very well, but the Inspector reports a poor fixing of spat last season, and on that account special care was exercised in picking the beds last season, and the same caution will have to be continued until a better supply of young oysters is showing on all the beds. Thames. —Fish have been plentiful throughout the year, and good catches by fishermen have been the rule. Flounders have been particularly plentiful through the summer months, the fishermen being unable to find a market for all they could catch, and the Auckland merchants frequently limited the quantity wliich they would take. Considerable quantities of flounders have been sent to the Wellington market through the summer. The fish were carefully cleaned, chilled, and packed in ice, and reached Wellington after a forty-eight hours' train journey in splendid condition. Tauranga.- —Fishing throughout the year has been very good. Since the trawling started in Auckland the market for fish has been confined to local requirements and supplying the inland towns and settlements. Gisborne. —The usual fish caught on the local fishing-grounds have been plentiful throughout the year, and when the weather was favourable good catches were made by the trawler and other fishing-boats. All the fish caught found a ready market in Gisborne and inland. Napier. —The local Inspector reports that the past year has been the worst on record for the fishing industry in Hawke's Bay. The reasons stated are scarcity of fish, prevailing easterly weather, shortage of coal, scarcity of netting twine, and the " slime" which made its apipearance in the bay in November and December. This substance choked the nets and caused considerable damage, and generally hindered fishing operations. Some of the smaller trawlers tried line fishing, but the results were not sufficiently encouraging for them to continue. On account of the unremuuerative results obtained several of the trawlers stopped working at intervals. A number of the small-boat fishermen also gave up fishing, and found employment handling cargo on the wharf and in other ways. It is very probable that the reported scarcity of fish is only temporary, and that with favourable weather-conditions the supply will soon return to the usual seasonal average. New Plymouth. —When the weather was favourable fair catches were made by the small boats. The one steam trawler working for a time from the port made fair catches, and, having a command of ice, was able to send the surplus fish to inland towns. Wanganui. —The quantity of fish taken during the twelve months was 1,610 cwt., which shows a large increase on the quantity taken in 1916. Foxton. —The fishermen have not been so successful during the year as they were in 1916. The return of the fish caught is given at 390 cwt., as against 800 cwt. the previous year. The whitebait season has been a very poor one, the Manawatu River being in flood and discoloured during the greater part of the time that the whitebait usually run. Wellington District. —The weather-conditions throughout the year have been very favourable, but notwithstanding this the Inspector states that the catches have not been so good as during the previous season. The. fishermen state that the hapuku were scarce on the grounds which are