5

H.—lsa

inshore round the south corner of the bay for an hour and a half. Picked up in 6 fathoms, and boarded 150 flounders, 160 soles, 40 gurnard, 6 crayfish, 1 schnapper, 2 warehou, 10 elephant-fish, 2 dog-fish, and 1 skate. Nineteenth Haiti. —Shot the net for the last haul in Poverty Bay in 7 fathoms at 2 p.m., on a fine-sand bottom; towed close inshore four miles, and picked up in 6 fathoms. Result : 90 flounders, 92 soles, 2 red-cod, 120 gurnard, 1 moki, 1 kahawai, 2 brill, and 14 lemon-soles. Twentieth Haul. —After coaling and refitting in Gisborne we steamed for Bay of Plenty at 3.20 a.m. on Monday, the 18th February; passed East Island at 1.30 p.m. ; tested bottom inKawakawa Roadstead and Hicks Bay ; took temperatures, and anchored in Hicks Bay for the night. Left anchorage at 6 a.m. on the 20th ; passed Cape Runaway at 8.30 a.m. ; took soundings in Wangapararoa Bay. The lead showing a sand bottom the trawl-net was put down for a short haul at 9.35 in 15 fathoms. Towed for an hour and a half S.W. \S. two miles, and E. by N. one mile and a quarter, with very poor results, only 6 gurnard and 2 dog-fish being brought up. Twenty-first Haul. —On the 21st February the " Doto " left the anchorage in Motunui Bay at 4.30 a.m. When well up to Tauranga Heads soundings with the lead were made. A sand bottom being found in 13f fathoms, the trawl was put down at 3.15 p.m. Towed W. by N. JN. for fortyfive minutes, when the net fouled a rock and was taken up, when it was found to contain only 4 lemon-soles and 2 gurnard, and we put into Tauranga for water. Twenty-second Haul. —Leaving Tauranga at 7.30 a.m. on the 21st February, soundings were made outside the bar to the N.E. of Maunganui. The lead showing a sandy bottom, the net was shot in 5 fathoms at 9 a.m. Towed N. W. by W. fW. about a mile off shore for two hours, making four miles and three-quarters, and when hauled up off sand 20 schnapper, 22 gurnard, 2 John dory, 1 flounder, and 4 dog-fish were bagged. Twenty-third Haul. —Proceeded to within two miles south of Katikati Bluff, where the net was shot at noon, on sand, in 10 fathoms. Towed W.N.W. inshore two miles and three-quarters, until close up to the bar in 5 fathoms, and off shore again into 10 fathoms, when it was picked up at 2 p.m., resulting in the capture of only 2 brill, 7 gurnard, and 2 dog-fish. Twenty-fourth Haul. —From picking up the net at station 23, a line of soundings was made due east into 32 fathoms, and from thence inshore into 15 fathoms. At this depth the bottom dredge was put down, and towed for a mile N.E. -JE. When taken up it contained only a small quantity of sand, broken shells, and a few white shells. As the weather threatened a strong south-east gale, and a heavy swell getting up, the " Doto " returned to Tauranga. Twenty-fifth Haul. —On Friday and Saturday, the 22nd and 23rd February, all shipping in Tauranga was suspended owing to the gale and heavy sea; and on Monday, the 25th, we left Tauranga at 7 a.m., intending to work from Tauranga Heads to Mayor Island, but a strong easterly wind and choppy sea prevented the trawl-net being put down. Took soundings along the route, and sheltered in the bay on the west side of Slipper Island all night. At 4.40 a.m. on the 26th the anchor was lifted, and a bad sea encountered until past Ohena Island. When past Tepahi Point, abreast of Great Mercury Island, the trawl-net was shot in 11-J- fathoms, on a sand bottom, at 8.45 a.m., and towed W. f S. for the opening of Kennedy Bay for an hour and three-quarters over four miles. When picked up the net contained only 6 leather-jackets and a large crayfish. Twenty-sixth Haul.— After picking up at 25, steamed past Cape Colville, from whence soundings were taken to Whangaparoa Peninsula, where the anchor was dropped for the night, and lifted at 5.30 a.m. on the 27th. A short distance from the anchorage the net was dropped on a mud bottom in 7-J- fathoms, and picked up off similar ground in 8 fathoms, having been towed W. S.W. f W. two miles and a half, and N. f W, two miles round the head of Whangaparoa Bay. Result :30 schnapper, 20 gurnard, 2 lemon-soles, 2 leather-jackets, and 1 large whip-ray. The bottom throughout this haul was mud. Twenty-seventh Haul. —Shot the net again near where it was last hauled up, and towed into the opening between Motuora and Horora Islands, taking a course E. f N. two miles, and N. by W. f W. two miles and a half, the depth being about 8 fathoms. This haul yielded 36 schnapper, 4 lemon-soles, 30 gurnard, and 2 John dory. Twenty-eighth Haul. —From picking up at 27, headed for Tiri Tiri Matangi, and put down the net off Wanga Point in 13 fathoms at 10.30 a.m., on a blue-mud bottom. Towed an hour and three-quarters S.E. for four miles and a quarter, and picked up off mud in 14 fathoms. Result: 21 schnapper, 2 lemon-soles, 18 gurnard, 8 dog-fish, 1 stingaree, and 2 cat-fish. Twenty-ninth Haul. —Steamed through the channel between Tiri Tiri and Whangaparoa Peninsula, and shot the net at 1 p.m., on a'blue-mud bottom, in 10 fathoms. Towed S.W. \S. for an hour and three-quarters, and picked up four miles and a quarter off in 9 fathoms. Result: 168 schnapper, 1 lemon-sole, 135 gurnard, 5 John dory, and 2 dog-fish. Thirtieth Haul. —Steamed a short distance from last position, and put down the net in 8 fathoms at 2.50 p.m., on a mud bottom. Towed for an hour and a half S. \ E., and picked up the net in 7 fathoms off blue mud three miles and three-quarters away. It contained 253 schnapper, 190 gurnard, 2 John dory, 2 small flounders, and 1 stingaree. Thirty-first Haul. —Having coaled and repaired gear in Auckland on the 28th February, left at 5 a.m. on the Ist March. The net was put down north of Rangitoto Island in 8 fathoms at 6.20 a.m., and towed N.W. \N. for an hour and a half over a mud bottom. The result of this haul of three miles and a quarter was 193 schnapper, 21 gurnard, and 2 dog-fish. Thirty-second Haul. —Shot the net again four miles N.E. of Rokino Island in 15 fathoms at 8.10, on a mud bottom, and towed N.E. -J- N. an hour and a half, picking up in 21 fathoms, distant four miles. Result : 179 schnapper, 39 gurnard, 2 lemon-soles, and a large electric ray. Thirty-third Haul. —-The wind having increased to a gale, further work in the direction of Cape Colville was impossible, and we ran for shelter to Waiheke Islaud, testing the bottom along the line.