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A large number of anglers visited the district and there was again a marked increase in the number of licences issued as compared with the previous season. Numbers of excellent-conditioned fish were taken, their average weights being higher than for last season, as will be evident from the following records of fish from the Rotorua area : Weight. Numbers of Weight Numbers of lb. Fish recorded. lb. Fish recorded. 10 .. .. .. 19 15 .. .. .. 6 11 23 m 5 12 .. .. ..9 19l .. .. ..1 13 .. .. .. 5 (2) Fisheries Conservation (a) Hatchery Operations.—Ova were recovered and laid down in the two hatcheries for " eyeing " or complete incubation as follows No. 1 (Ngongotaha) Hatchery (Rotorua area) .. .. 4,269,500 No. 2 (Tongariro) Hatchery (Taupo area) .. .. 6,587,000 Of the above ova, 4,440,000 were sold to acclimatization societies and 2,865,000 were despatched to the Department's Southern Lakes District. (b) Restocking of Waters. —Fry were liberated in the district as under: —

(c) Trout-fishing. —There was a marked increase of smelt (Retropina lacustris) in. most of the lakes throughout the district, and particularly in the Western Bay region of Lake Taupo. (d) Anti-poaching Measures. —It was realized that out-of-season taking of spawning fish in the district had assumed such proportions as to prove a very serious threat to the successful operation of the fisheries in the district owing to loss to anglers of many hundreds of mature fish. In a determined attempt to stamp out these illegalities a vigorous campaign was carried out, the ranging staff being considerably augmented during the winter. As a result of these steps, large numbers of persons committing breaches of the Fishing Regulations were prosecuted, and 39 fines, amounting to a total of £237 10s., were imposed in addition to Court costs. The large number of successful prosecutions and the penalties inflicted should have a markedly deterrent effect on these illegal practices. (e) Black Shag Control. —The following black shags were destroyed:—(i) Under bounty paid by Department .. .. .. 426 (ii) Destroyed by departmental officers .. .. .. 129 (3) The Shooting Season The sum of £1,878 was received from the issue of 1,257 game-shooting licences.

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Waters. Hatchery. Rainbow. Brown. Totals. Rotorua area No. 1 1,925,000 325.000 2,250,000 Taupo area No. 2 1,805,000 40,000 1,845,000 Totals 3,730,000 365,000 4,095,000