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this year, and operations were carried out in Lake Rotoiti only. During the year 6,034 separate consignments of fish were delivered from the depot, and consignments were made to all parts of the Dominion. At the Tokaanu depot the returns hardly come up to last year's standard. This is accounted for partly by the operations not being started till January, the increase of poor fish taken, the bad condition of the Waimarino Road causing delay in motor services, and delay in train services. Now, however, that Mr. Parsons has returned from the war it is to be hoped that next season the business will be brought up to its usual standard. The following is a record of the business done: — Sales at the Rotorua depot: 19,163 fish, weighing 55,7601b. ; value, £931 10s. 2|d. Sales at the Tokaanu depot: 10,060 fish, weighing 27,810| lb. ; value. £522 7s. 8.4 d. Total, 29,233 fish, weighing 83,570f lb. ; value, £1,453 17s. lid. Total weight of fish sold: Rotorua—l9,l63 fish, weighing 24 tons 17 cwt. 3 qr. 121b.; Tokaanu—lo,o6o fish, weighing 12 tons 8 cwt. 1 qr. 7 lb. : total, 29,223 fish, weighing 37 tons 6 cwt. 0 qr. 19 lb. Total number of fish destroyed as unfit for marketing: Rotorua—l,9s4 fish, weighing 2 tons 12 cwt. Oqr. 181b. ; Tokaanu- 2,385 fish, weighing 3 tons 3 cwt. 3 qr. 151b. : total, 4,339 fish, weighing 5 tons 16 cwt. 0 qr. 5 lb. During the past year 424 shags' heads were purchased at a cost of £53. For the purpose of again augmenting the food-supply a further number of live shrimps from the Waikato River have been liberated in Lake Rotorua. During the season a sample of the shrimps taken in the Waikato River were submitted to the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C, for scientific purposes, and to ascertain if they were suitable for liberation in fresh waters of the Dominion. The following is an extract from a letter received from him : " The species proves to be Xiphocaris curviroslris Heller, a shrimp which was formerly very common in our fresh-water streams throughout New Zealand, but which in most of our trout-stocked rivers has been exterminated by the introduced fish. It was probably at one time very common in all streams in the Rotorua district. It is therefore very interesting to find that it is still abundant in some parts." THE TROUT-HATCnERY. The work in connection with the trout-hatchery was carried out under certain difficulties, mostly in connection with the labour question, as there are very few men in the Dominion who are used to this class of work. However, the following quantity of trout ova and fry were forwarded from the hatchery during the close season : Trout-ova sold and distributed. 1,020,000 ; trout-fry sold and distributed, 625,000 : total, 1,645,000. Trout were liberated in the streams of the Tongariro National Park, and in various streams in the Rotorua Acclimatization District. Gifts of ova have also been made to some of the smaller acclimatization societies within the Dominion. Scientific Experiments. An officer of the Department from the Dominion Museum has visited Rotorua for the purpose of making scientific experiments with the trout, with a view to ascertaining, among other things, what effect inbreeding may have on the trout, and also matters relating to the trout generally. The Under-Secretary, F. Moorhouse, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington. Conservator of Fish and Game.

IX. REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF TOTALIZATORS. Wellington, 20th August, 1919. I have the honour to submit my first report on the inspection of totalizators for the racing year which ended on the 31st ultimo. Early in August, 1918, the Government decided on the appointment of an Inspector of Totalizators, and a representative of this Department has been present at every totalizator meeting that has been held since that date. The appointment of Deputy Inspectors is confined to officers of this Department, and I desire to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to them for the intelligent and tactful manner in which they have carried out their duties. There has been no friction whatever with racing and trotting clubs, and although clubs were rather inclined at first to view the appointment with disfavour, I think that, generally speaking, that feeling has completely changed, and several clubs have expressed their approval of the appointment of Totalizator Inspectors, There is no doubt whatever that the appointment restored the confidence of the public in the fair and impartial working of the totalizator. The principal duties of are to see that the totalizator-house is large enough to meet the public requirements ; that received in the totalizator-house are held back until the last moment ;]TthatJthe [totalj[investmentsjreceived|on p each race are correctly-balanced the correct figures are shown on the dial of the totalizator before the release-signal is given to the starter ; toTsee that the dividends are computed on such figures, and that the public are paid the correct dividends ; to see that ample provision is made for the paying-out of dividends ; and to generally inquire into any complaints made by the public against the management of the totalizatorhouse.