H.—ls.

be admitted that iii the past there was within easy reach of Auckland what may perhaps be described as a local superfluity of snapper, when an extraordinary number of these fish could be caught in a short time by any one who could put a bait on a hook. But whether the present-day conditions, when snapper-fishing in the neighbourhood of Auckland is much more of a game of chance, as well as of skill, than it used to be, represent a state of snapper depletion in the strict economic sense —whether human exploitation is taking away faster than nature can reproduce—is not a question that can be answered in the affirmative on the basis of the evidence available. However, after discussing the question at a conference of representatives of all classes of professional fishermen and fish-traders at Auckland on the 13th May, 1932, followed by a conference with experienced amateur fishermen on the following day, it was decided to close more of the inshore waters of the Hauraki Gulf to Danishseining, with the object mainly of protecting known nursery grounds—though big snapper are also to be caught in these inshore waters —and also of conserving the stock of snapper on the small-boat fishermen's grounds. Regulations giving effect to this decision were made on the 14th November, 1932. Hapuku catches by line-boats showed a falling-off this summer not only in the Hauraki Gulf, but also in Mercury Bay and the Bay of Plenty, but the winter catches by trawling were fairly good. The flounder and dab supplies (both kinds being generally marketed under the common name of " flounder ") have shown a marked increase on the Auckland market during the last three years, this fishing being specialized in by some of the Danish-seiners. The best catches are made in winter and spring. In summer when the flounder leave the Danish-seining grounds they afford a harvest for the set-net fishers in the Firth of Thames. Favourable weather and a (comparatively) better market combined to intensify the exploitation of this fishery during the last year. By the method of attracting the fish with a bright light, 79 cwt. of sardines, netted at night, were landed by an Auckland boat during the year. These fish are prepared for market by salting down in small barrels in the Mediterranean style. The pioneer of this fishery has in view the prospect of developing a sardine-canning industry. A Thames fisherman also made a catch of sardines off Ponui in July, using what is described as a small surface set (? drift) net operated by daylight. Captain Daniel carried out his usual observations on the reproduction of snapper in the summer months, obtaining numerous snapper eggs by tow-netting in December and January, by this means getting an indication of the distribution of the spawning schools and observing the temperature of the water at the incidence of spawning. At the same time, he obtained pilchard and anchovy eggs. He also ascertained that this year the flounder in the Hauraki Gulf spawned from about 20th July till about the 15th August, by which date most of the females were spent, and that dabs spawned from about the 15th of August to about the 9th September. The Napier (Hawke's Bay) fishing, where the trawling method still predominates, was helped by good weather conditions and was prosecuted with more than average success. The Napier fishing fleet has been greatly inconvenienced, not to say endangered, owing to the loss of access to the old inner harbour following the earthquake of February, 1931. In the absence of anything but the most cursory surveillance, and without comprehensive statistical records, it is not possible to report upon the conditions in the Wellington fishing industry with any confidence. During the past year the collection of returns of fish-landings has been commenced. Our best data are obtained through the co-operation of the New Zealand Fisheries, Ltd. (with regard to trawler operations) and of the Wellington Fishermen's Co-operative Association. From the latter the data collated by the Marine Biologist showed that from 23 long-lining vessels operating in Cook Strait during the year each boat's landing for a single trip averaged 31 groper, 9 hake, and 6 ling. These are but moderate results in view of the expenses incurred in working the launches in Cook Strait, but we have no data for comparison with previous years. The average weights of the principal fish caught by Cook Strait liners at the present time are —groper, 10 lb. ; ling, 20 lb. ; hake, 6 lb. (all headed and gutted). The line fishermen of the French Pass, who depend principally on blue cod supplies for the Wellington market, have had their difficulties increased from the invasion of the industry by a number of unemployed or impoverished agriculturists. The result has been that at times the market has been oversupplied with a quantity of fish of poor quality. The majority of the professional fishermen desire the raising of the size limit for blue cod to 13 in. instead of the present 12 in. They maintain that good-sized fish have become progressively scarcer, and that the majority are caught before they have time to grow up. The Department requires to be better acquainted with this fishery than is the case at present in order that any measures for conservation which may be necessary may be rationally applied. In connection with the fishing in Tasman Bay there has recently been an increase in the numbers of boats operating the Danish seine from the Port of Nelson. Inshore fishermen, principally amateurs, complain of the impoverishment of the local fishing-grounds, which they allege is due to the operations of the Danish seiners (generally termed trawlers in this district). The position appears to be similar to what has taken place in the Hauraki Gulf. With regard to the Tasman Bay fishing, past and present, we have unfortunately only the most exiguous information. It is very desirable that the conditions should be investigated more closely in the near future. Real depletion of a fishery (i.e., taking out more quickly than nature can restore) cannot be allowed for too long, as the damage increases by a sort of compound interest until any remedy becomes impracticable. Under ideal fishery administration an approach to such a state of affairs would never be allowed. It is impossible to say on the basis of present information whether such a state exists in Tasman Bay at the present time or not, or whether the comparative shortage is entirely due to the causes popularly alleged. To apply new restrictions

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