H.—2B

6

We are of opinion that the fishermen should be given as much freedom in disposing of their catches of fish in the City of Auckland as is consistent with the proper control of the industry by the Auckland City Council. It was also mentioned as a grievance of the fishermen that the Auckland Harbour Board prevented them from bringing their boats to the wharves and there selling I heir fish. There are probably quite good reasons for this so far as the ordinary wharves are concerned, but we feel sine no exception would be taken by the Harbour Board to fishing-boats being brought to the wharf set aside for trawlers and fishing-boats, and to the fishermen there selling their fish from the boat. No exception, we are equally sure, would be taken by the Auckland City Council to this course, because the object of the Council in interesting itself in the fish trade is tin; cheapening of the cost of fisli to tin; consumer, and if permission to the fishermen to sell their fish in this way leads to that result no objection should be made by the Council. Length or' Set-nets. Another matter brought before the. Commission was the regulation restricting the length of net used, by fishermen to 301) fathoms. They asked to be allowed to use nets up to 600 fathoms in length. We can see no objection to this, so long as the regulation preventing " stalling " is complied with, and we recommend that the regulation be amended to permit nets up to 600 fathoms in length being used. Manufacture of Fish Oil and Manure. At the present time between 10 and 20 tons of fish-offal is every week taken out to sea from the City of Auckland, and thrown overboard. This is not only a source of expense, but is a serious waste of valuable material from which both fish-oil and fish-manure could be manufactured. 11 the offal were converted into these articles so that it became of value instead of a matter of expense it would have a considerable effect in cheapening lish. Furthermore, it would have other advantages, as the products would be of great value to the community. It is essential in order to obtain the full benefit from this industry that the manure produced should reach a proper standard of quality. In order to encourage its production we beg to recommend that the Government offer a. bonus of £500 for the production of the first 500 tons of fish-manure reaching the requisite standard of quality. Fish-hatchery. The members of the Commission were struck by the diversity of opinions expressed and the absence of reliable information with respect to the habits of snapper and the other fish common to these northern waters. We beg to recommend for the. consideration of the Government the provision of a fish-hatohery in the Auckland District on lines similar to that already in existence at Portobello, near Dunedin. Departmental Control. At the present time part of the fishing interests of the Dominion come under the control of the Minister in Charge of the Tourist Department and part under the control of the Minister of Marine. The desire was expressed by some of the. witnesses before the Commission that, all those interests should be brought under one, Minister. Having regard to the, importance which the. fishing industry should attain in New Zealand, and to the wonderful resources of the Dominion in the, matter, this does appear to us to be advisable if there are no serious departmental difficulties in the way. Conclusion. The, Commission desires to thank Sanford Limited for placing a trawler at its disposal, and to thank the Hon. G. M. Thomson for forwarding a copy of his evidence given before the Industries Committee of the House of Representatives; and also to express its appreciation of the unfailing courtesy of counsel for the various interested parlies to the inquiry throughout the somewhat lengthy proceedings, and to acknowledge, their able assistance. Our thanks are also due to Mi. F. W. Weston, of the Hansard staff, for his valuable services in the capacity of secretary and reporter to the Commission. We return herewith the Orders in Council and appointments forwarded to us, together with— (1) The minutes of proceedings ; (2) the. minutes of evidence ; (3) the exhibits enumerated in the schedule hereto ; (4) a number of communications giving information received from various sources. As witness our hands, at Auckland, this Bth day of May, 1919. E. C. CCTTBN, S.M., Chairman. J. 11. Bradney, 1,, ri , T ' [ Commissioners. Thus. Lonw,

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