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of boats operating has been satisfactory. The quantity of fish brought in by the local fishermen does not, however, meet the demand, which is growing all the time, and considerable quantities have to be obtained from Bay of Islands. Kaipara. —The local Inspector reports that during the year the usual market fish have been plentiful. Flounders have been caught in larger quantities than formerly, and satisfactory prices have been obtained for all kinds of fish both locally and in tho Auckland market. The mullet-cannery at Batloy has had a satisfactory season, and the toheroa-cannery at Tikinui has also had a good season. The quantity put up for the season is considerably in excess of any previous year. Auckland. —The local Inspector of Fisheries reports that the fish-supply has not been so regular as in previous years owing to the trawlers which bring in the most regular supply having to go farther out to secure payable catches. Some of the larger trawlers have been operating on the west coast and others in the Bay of Plenty. Some of the masters of the trawlers complain that there is considerable decrease in the supply of fish obtainable on the local trawling-grounds in the Hauraki Gulf. The Inspector states that these grounds arc fast becoming depleted, and several of the masters suggest a close season, and the Inspector recommends that this should be given effect to. The oyster-beds in the Hauraki Gulf and at Great Barrier Island were picked during last season, and yielded 3,890 sacks of first-class oysters for market. Thames. —Fish have been plentiful on all the fishing-grounds, and good catches have been made by fishermen. After supplying the local demand fish are forwarded to Rotorua and other inland towns in the Auckland District, and as far south as Palmerston, Feilding, and Wanganui. Tho total quantity of fish caught during the year by the local boats is given as 27,957 cwt., and the value £32,080. Tauranga. —Fish of all kinds have been fairly plentiful during past year. Deep-sea fishing has provided excellent sport to visitors, who speak highly of tho local fishing-grounds, and several splendid specimens of swordfish, kingfish, and mako-sharks were landed during the season. Gisborne. —Bad weather caused a good deal of lost time during the year, but fish were plentiful on tho usual fishing-grounds, and altogether tho men employed in the industry have had a fairly successful year. Napier. —The past year in the Hawke's Bay District has been of an average character in the fishing industry. During the period from the Ist April to the 31st December, 1922, fish were plentiful, and good catches were made by the trawlers and also by the small boatmen, but from the Ist January to the 31st March, 1923, the catches have been exceptionally poor, and this has rendered what otherwise would have been a good year into only a fair average one. The Inspector states that the fishermen have not been enabled to benefit when the fish were plentiful owing to their being unable to dispose of them, a condition brought about by the cheaper prices of meat, eggs, bacon, &c, notwithstanding that the price of fish was lowered for retail purposes by 3d. per pound. This entailed their having to cease fishing until such time as the local glut was cleared off. New Plymouth. —The report shows an increase of seven fishing-boats during the year, and also an increase in the quantity of fish caught. On account of the exposed coast-line where the fishinglaunches operate, the men lose a groat amount of time, and on that account a number only fish part of the year and find other employment during certain months. Wanganui. —The Inspector states that there is very little fishing carried on at this port. The amount of fish caught during the past year is much less than has been taken during previous years. Ho states that the great drawback to fishermen is the rough bar harbour. Very often the fishermen are unable to get out for a fortnight at a time, and sometimes when they got out over the bar the weather becomes rough, and they are unable to get back in time to dispose of their fish before they go bad. Considerably more than half the fish used in this town is brought from Napier, Auckland, Thames, and other places. Foxton. —The quantity of fish caught in the local grounds shows very little variation to the previous year's catch. The season for whitebait showed an improvement on previous year's catches. Wellington. -A great amount of lost time owing to unfavourable weather has affected tho quantity of fish brought in, and also the earnings of the fishermen. Fish, particularly hapuka and blue cod, have been scarce on some of the grounds, and the boats have had to go farther afield to get good catches. Picton. —The quantity of fish taken was equal to previous years, the most of which were sold locally and the balance forwarded to inland towns. At the Tory Channel whaling-station seventeen humpback and one " right " whale were killed, yielding 62 tons of oil and 6 cwt. of whalebone, valued at £1,340. Blenheim. —The catches of fish on the local fishing-grounds shows a decrease on the previous year's catch. Fish were plentiful, and the cause of the decrease in quantity is accounted for by unfavourable weather conditions during the spring and early summer months. Nelson. —For several years there has been no development in the industry. Nelson has a great extent of well-sheltered fishing-grounds with a splendid variety of fish, yet there is little or no increase in the quantity of fish brought in. Fish of all the usual varieties have been plentiful during the past year. Westport. —-The fishing season just ended has proved very satisfactory, and has equalled the previous season's good returns. The whitebait season showed a marked increase on the two previous years' returns. The fishermen consider that the fishing-grounds are good, and all fish are fairly plentiful, especially fiat fish. Greymouth. —Extensive fishing-grounds exist off the coast, but, on account of the uncertain bar, fishermen are unable to make full use of these, and on account of so much lost time there are no fishermen now who follow up fishing as their regular occupation. Any fishing which is done is more as a side line and not as a regular employment. The supply of fish for local consumption is obtained principally from the trawlers operating from Westport and from Christchurch.