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taken in 1918. A. gang of men was again employed, during the summer months in shifting high-water oyster-rock down to a.nd below half-tide. The high-water oysters removed in this way during the early part of the previous year have improved to such an extent that a quantity of them is fit for market this season. The oysters planted in Whangaroa Harbour in 191.8 have given good, results ; the mature oysters planted have improved in size, and round some of the bods there are a lot of young oysters showing. At Messrs. Jagger and Cook's whaling-station at Whangamumu forty-one good humpback whales were taken last season, yielding 224 tons of oil and 38 tons of bonedust. Whangarei.- Mullet, flounder, hapuku, and rock-cod were taken in fair quantities during the past year. The quantity taken was approximately 1,577 cwt., valued at about £3,458. Auckland. —The Inspector for the Auckland District reports that there were five steam trawlers working from Auckland, and sixty-five oil-engined launches fishing from Auckland and Onehunga. A number of the Auckland line fishermen now take a supply of ice and stay out until they get, a good catch of fish, going as far as the north side of the two Barrier Islands, Mokohinou, and Mercury and Alderman Islands in the Bay of Plenty. These boats are all under 7 tons register, and they arc compelled to go to these far-away grounds on account of the scarcity of the best-sized market fish in the Hauraki Gulf. The Auckland market has been fairly well supplied, with fish during the year. The total number of sacks of oysters taken from the Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier beds was 5,582. On a few of the beds there has been a fair showing of young oysters, but on the greater part of the beds the fixing of spat has been poor for several years. Thames. —The supply of fish during the past year was very satisfactory. Snapper, flounder, and gurnard have been taken in fairly large quantities. There are thirty-six launches engaged in fishing, employing 108 men. The fishing industry is developing of late, and at the present rate will in a short time become one of the district's most important industries. Tauranga. —There has been an increase in the number of fishing-boats during the past year — thirty-nine being registered, as against twenty in the previous year —and thirty men have been, engaged in fishing, being an increase of ten in the number fishing in 1918. Gisborne. —The supply of market fish on the usual fishing-grounds has been very much the same as in other years, but on account of unfavourable weather conditions the quantity and. value of the fish, brought in has been less than in 1918. Napier. —The year as a whole has been a moderate one for the fishing industry. In April, May, and June the fishing was so bad that four trawlers had to lay up, and the others that were kept running were, owing to the poor catches, worked at a considerable loss. During the months of October, November, December, and January westerly winds prevailed and record catches were made, especially of flat fish, which were of excellent quality. During February and March the catches were again poor. The year's results can be summarized as four months very good and eight months poor. During the four good months more than double the quantity of fish was landed than during the other eight. There has been an increase in the wholesale price of 4s. 6d. per hundredweight for flat fish and 2s. 4-d. per hundredweight for round fish. The small-boat fishermen at Olive and Westshore report a good year, some big hauls being made. The total value of all kinds of fish brought in during the year is £16,070 9s. 6d., as against £14,143 10s. 6d. in 19.18. Wa.nganui. —There has been very little fishing done during the past twelve months, as most of the fishermen have left the district. All kinds of fish are reported to be plentiful on the local fishing-grounds. Foxton. —The fish caught include flounder, whitebait, snapper, and kahawai. The total weight taken during the year was about 100 cwt., valued at £1,120. Wellington. —There has been an increase of seventeen in the number of fishing-boats licensed, during the year. Unfavourable weather conditions considerably hindered fishing operations, causing a scarcity of fish for the time. The local Inspector, however, reports that on the whole the market has been fairly well supplied. The quantity marketed was approximately 16,4.00 cwt., valued at, £20,160. Picton. —The quantity and value of fish caught at this port was about the same as in 1918, and the same number of launches were engaged in fishing. Three vessels were engaged, in whaling, and the Inspector reports a successful season for those engaged in this industry. Blenheim. —Fishermen report fish as being plentiful on the usual fishing-grounds, and with a ready market for their catches they have had a successful season. Nelson. —The quantity and value of fish brought in to this port during the year shows a considerable increase on the two previous seasons. One steam trawler has been engaged in fishing, and the Inspector reports that it has done very well. Fish have been plentiful on the fishing-grounds about French Pass, D'Urville Island, and in Nelson and Golden Bays. , Westport. -Fish sire reported as being plentiful, and good catches were made when weather conditions were favourable. Whitebait were more plentiful than in the preceding season, but were not taken in anything like the quantities they were a few years back. Greymouth. The Inspector reports that owing to bad weather the past season was a very poor one ; the quantity of fish caught was considerably less than in the two preceding years. Hokitika. —With the exception of whitebait there was very little other fishing done during the past year. The quantity of whitebait taken shows a very substantial increase on the catch of the two preceding seasons. Kaihoura. —There has been an increase in the number of fishermen and also a considerable increase in the value of fish landed, during the year. The fish-chilling and icemaking plant is proving of great benefit to the industry. A whaling-station has been established on the south side of 'the peninsula by Mr. C. Johnston. A useful plant has been erected, and Mr. Johnston expects to take up'the manufacture of bonedust and fertilizer from the residue of the carcase, after the oil is extracted.