H.—ls.

been moved from the outside ponds soon succumbed to the sudden change. As the heater was in commission, the fish in the observation-tanks were not affected. A number of sea-slugs, however, that had recently been collected on the outside beaches died, no doubt from the effects of the low temperature, though the tank water was several degrees warmer than the harbour water. " Trawling and dredging were carried out on most of the grounds within ten miles of Otago Heads. In accordance with instructions received from Mr. Howes, all work carried out with the launch off the coast was confined to a limit of ten miles off the Heads. This restriction " [due to the terms of the insurance policy on the launch] " somewhat hampers the work outside the Heads. For a number of years groper have been very scarce within this limit, while blue cod, although frequently plentiful off Cape Saunders, are often only to be caught on the reefs a few miles farther south. The catches of flat fish throughout the spawning season were somewhat similar to those of the previous year. Owing to the weather during July being mostly unsettled, little trawling was done. Although August was more settled, all kinds of flat fish were far from plentiful until the latter part of the month. The fish were then working closer inshore and fair hauls were made. By this time the majority of the fish had spawned. During the final week in September we caught only two flat fish, both flounders which had not spawned. " Whale-feed (Munida gregaria) was a.gain exceptionally scarce throughout the year. It was only for a few days during January that any number was seen by us on the surface inside the harbour. The adult form was seldom taken from the stomachs of fish caught by hand line or trawl. Last year was considered a very poor season for whale-feed, but this year has been worse." Biological material has been supplied during the year to teaching institutions and to various individuals engaged in scientific research. These include— Professor Benham (Dunedin) —Annelids, Echinoderms, a,nd Salpidae. Mr. Bennet (Perth, W.A.) —Thirty-three species of crabs. Mr. R. M. Laing (Christchurch)—Algse. Mr. A. W. Parrott (Christchurch) — Diflocrepis. Professor Percival (Christchurch) —Asteroids. Mr. A. W. Powell (Auckland.) —Gastropods and Nudibranchs. Dr. H. M. Watt (Dunedin) —Diatomaceous material and Foraminifera. The Board is greatly indebted to Mr. W. G. Howes, its honorary secretary and treasurer, for the time and attention he has given, not only to the upkeep of the station, but also to assisting Messrs. Adams and Broadley in the work of collecting and preserving material during Mr. Graham's long absences in hospital. Educational Work. The station was visited by a large number of persons during the year, particularly by teachers, students, and school pupils. Fishermen also come with specimens, and to receive hints as to their material. These have been shown round by Mr. Graham whenever he was on duty, and have received much instruction and encouragement from him. This is an important part of the work of the station. These visitors included the Dunedin Field Naturalists' Club, the Tramping Club, the Camera Club, Boy Scouts, students of the Training College (who came down in parties of twenty-five to fifty under the supervision of Mr. McCaskill, their enthusiastic instructor), pupils of the Otago Girls' High' School, Archerfield School, Port Chalmers District High School, Portobello and Lower Portobello Schools. On the 7th January the station was honoured by a visit from Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral and Lady Bledisloe, who expressed their appreciation of the work done by the Board and the staff. General Work. Mr. Adams reports as follows : " The launch was placed on the slip at regular intervals for cleaning and painting ; the hull and all the trawling-gear are in good condition. The dinghy has now been in constant use almost every day since the station was opened, and is becoming tender on the bottom planks ; part of the keel, in which the borer was found, was taken out and renewed, and a brass keelband fitted. A new wooden valve-box was made and fitted to the suction-pipe connected to the motordriven pump. Twenty feet of the 4 in. pipe was also renewed. During the winter months, when few people visited the station, the observation-tanks were emptied in turn, in order that the iron frames could be cleaned of rust and painted." Mr. Broadley twice paid a visit of inspection to the fishing-stations from Oamaru to Waikawa. He has also visited the Dunedin Fish-market regularly. A monthly weather report was sent to the Director of the Meteorological Department. I have, &c., Geo. M. Thomson, The Hon. the Minister of Marine, Wellington. Chairman of the Board.

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