H—ls

The quantities from Hauraki Gulf were obtained from tlie following areas: Brown's Island, 133; Motutapu, 116 ; Waiheke Island, 351; Ponui Island, 455 ; Rotoroa, 147 ; Pakatoa, 95 ; Rangitoto, 610; Pakihi Island, 17 ; South Shore, 63. Area. Oyster-cultivation for the Year ended 31st March, 1948 I. Bay of Islands : 403,000 borers and 3,350 pupu destroyed, 192 square yards of rock cleared of weeds. Cost, £99 ss. 4d. 11. Whangarei Harbour : 80,700 borers and 152 pupu destroyed, 9 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 31 square yards cleared of grape weed, and 133 square yards of high-water rock moved to lower level. Cost, £42 9s. 6d. IY. Takatu Point to Gull Point: 38,000 borers destroyed and 80 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell. Cost, £3 12s. 6d. Y. South Shore : 14,000 borers destroyed. No cost. YIII. Rakino : 51,000 borers destroyed. Cost, £1 9s. X. Motutapu : 116,000 borers and 28 pupu destroyed, 43 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell. Cost, £2 16s. XIII. Waiheke : 922,000 borers and 194 pupu destroyed, 1,106 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, and 83 square yards cleared of grape weed. Cost, £2l 12s. 3d. XIY. Ponui: 468,100 borers and 60 pupu destroyed, 352 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, and 421 square yards cleared of grape weed. Cost, £ll lis. 3d. XVI. Great Barrier : 804,000 borers and 333 pupu destroyed, 6 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell. Cost, £lO2 os. lOd. Total for all areas : 2,896,800 borers and 4,117 pupu destroyed, 1,596 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 192 square yards cleared of weeds, 535 square yards cleared of grape weed, and 133 square yards of rock at high water moved to a lower level. Cost, £284 16s. Bd. Dredge Oysters : Foveaux Strait, 1947 The total catch of 81,518 sacks shows a decrease of 7,838 sacks on last year's total. Of the total catch, two-thirds were taken from the East and Ruapuke Grounds. The condition of all catches landed up till August was good, but from then on they became poor as the oysters began to show signs of spawning. One vessel was under overhaul throughout most of the season having new engines fitted. The totals for the last five years are set out below : Sacks. 1943 .. .. .. .. 73,119 1944 .. .. .. .. 63,949 1945 .. .. .. .. 76,038 1946 .. .. .. .. 89,356 1947 81,518

28