H.—ls.

can be undertaken by those unskilled in modern tannery processes or even by the skilled unless they have the requisite modern plant. If the successful results, which there is reason to anticipate, are achieved, New Zealand eel-skin leather will be on the market in the near future. Tinned eel may then be of the nature of a by-product of the tanning industry instead of eel-skin being a waste product of the canning industry. The catching of eels to provide the raw material should afford a suitable occupation for many Maoris who are not happily situated in the economic circumstances of to-day. Returning to the subject of eels as food, I can report from trials made by myself and others that tinned eel is little, if at all, inferior either in flavour or food value to tinned salmon (imported from countries that raise high barriers against the importation of New Zealand produce). At present it may be difficult to sell at a price commensurate with its real value. So was our mutton until the bias of ignorance was overcome and until science came to the aid of industry and commerce to ensure that only a commodity of high quality should be put upon the market. Fresh-water Fishery Research. In my report for 1933-34 I gave a brief history of the Fresh-Water Research Committee set up by the New Zealand Acclimatization Societies' Association in 1929, referring to the financial arrangements made for the work, the nature of the organization for its control and prosecution, and the general lines of investigation undertaken. Meetings of the Committee were held at Christchurch in May, August, and November, 1934, and in March, 1935. Early in the year it was evident that, though the work was increasing in volume and had already developed to a stage at which results were being obtained that had a practical bearing on the management of fresh-water fisheries, the financial provision for research was in a state of decline. Since its funds depended on voluntary contributions from acclimatization societies, all of which, having experienced depressions in their budget balances, were inclined to give preferential treatment to the financing of their normal activities, it was necessary for the Committee to carry on with the utmost economy that was compatible with the continuance of the tasks in hand. At the Biennial Conference of the Acclimatization Societies' Association held in October, 1934, the delegates having received reports by the Chairman of the Research Committee and the Honorary Director of Research together with a special report by Mr. D. F. Hobbs on his observations of spawning phenomena, a special sub-committee met to consider the question of research and to make recommendations concerning its continuation. It was unanimously agreed that the work was of importance to the interests of societies and should continue, and that its financial provision should be placed upon a satisfactory basis. To this end it was resolved that the Government be recommended to increase the license fee payable to acclimatization societies for angling for acclimatized fish from £1 to £1 55., of which 2s. 6d. should be definitely earmarked for research purposes. However, there have subsequently been indications that the unanimity of the delegates to the conference is not shared by all acclimatization-society councils. The financial outlook for research has therefore not improved, but has rather deteriorated so far as support from societies is concerned. In the face of dwindling reserves a,nd no certain prospect of financial relief the Committee was obliged to curtail field-work during the year. The lack of funds to pay for the publication of reports has been a further hindrance to the satisfactory fulfilment of its functions. The decision of the Government to make a grant from opossum-license revenue to the Acclimatization Societies' Association for this work has brightened the outlook for the time being. During the past year the examination of scale-samples from various waters for age and growth determination has been continued. The biologist, Mr. Parrott, working at Canterbury College, Christchurch, has completed comprehensive reports based on the analysis and the statistical treatment of data from scale-reading, and has published four short papers on the brown trout of the Oreti River and the rainbow trout of the Waikato, Wanganui, and Rangitikei during the year in the New Zealand Fishing and Shooting Gazette*. A paper giving the results of an earlier investigation into the fundamentals of scale-reading technique, " Growth of the Scales in relation to Growth of the Fish in Gobiomorphus gobioides," was published in the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. XVI, No. 3, pp. 136-44, 1934. During the winter of 1934 Mr. D. F. Hobbs extended his earlier observations on the spawningconditions in streams in the neighbourhood of Inchbonnie, Westland, and in the Selwyn River, Canterbury. He has completed a report on the subject of the conditions under which the spawning of trout take place and on the losses sustained during the incubation and larval stages. Tentative arrangements for the extension of the study of trout-spawning conditions to other district have been made. I have, &c., A. E. Heeeord, Chief Inspector of Fisheries.

MARINE FISH HATCHERY AND BIOLOGICAL STATION, PORTOBELLO. Sir,-— I have the honour to present the report of the Portobello Marine Biological Station for the year ending March, 1935. -The Station has been kept in first-class order, and all boats and other gear in good repair despite the restrictions caused by the very little money we have had at our disposal. This has been only possible by the faithful service rendered by Mr. W. Adams, assisted, whenever possible, by the voluntary work of the hon. secretary, Mr. G. Howes.

* Vol. VIII, Nos. 9, 10, and 12, 1934; Vol. VIII, No. 3, 1935.

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