H.—ls.

of females in terms of eggs produced. The work has opened up possibilities of fisherymanagement which did not appear before and should be considered as providing the most important contribution made with the Committee's facilities. " Arising out of this work is the question of the reliability of the scale-reading method and of its limitations, and the indication that, while the laboratory must play an active part in elucidating problems, work in the field must always provide a test of conclusions derived in the laboratory, and vice versa. " Collaboration with some societies has been successful in the carrying out of long term observations. Among these may be mentioned the experiment in the Kakanui River, North Otago. Here, alternation of stocking and non-stocking with hatchery fry is proceeding with the object of determining the effect on the year class composition of anglers' catches, based on analyses of catches in the past several years. The first batch of material to be collected for this purpose should come in 1937-38. Southland has also taken part in collecting material to show migration changes in the Oreti and Aparima Rivers, and in trapping streams for productivity determinations. " During the existence of the Committee there has been a considerable amount of contact with societies all over the country for the purpose of explaining the aims and objects of the work and to inform them of the progress achieved. " In sum, the Committee may go out of existence knowing that knowledge has been obtained and understanding gained about a variety of matters which eight years ago were nebulous, and that a mass of raw fact is collected which may be of use to its successors." It is also fitting to include in the report the following extract from the minutes of its meeting of 3rd June, 1937 : — " The Committee decided respectfully to communicate to the Hon. the Minister of Marine the following recommendations as to the course the investigations should follow : — " (1) This Committee considers the continuation of the investigation of the natural reproduction of salmonidse and of subsequent survival to be of fundamental importance and recommends that this work should be continued, as one of the principal lines of research. " (2) This Committee recommends that the general survey of the age and growth of stocks of salmonid® be continued. " (3) This Committee recommends the continuation of both general and special investigations of lake plankton and also on general stream and lake fauna. " (4) This Committee recommends that when possible grants-in-aid be made to qualified persons, other than members of the staff, to enable approved special investigations to be carried out." The members of the Fresh-water Research Committee of the New Zealand Acclimatization Societies' Association were Dr. G. F. Y. Anson, Wellington Acclimatization Society (appointed vice Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, who retired in 1932) ; Mr. M. H. Godby, North Canterbury Acclimatization Society ; Mr. G. Howes, Otago Acclimatization Society ; Professor E. Percival, Canterbury University College (Honorary Director of Research) ; Mr. E. J. C. Wiffen, Wellington Acclimatization Society (Secretary). Mr. D. F. Hobbs was co-opted to act as Honorary Research Secretary at Christchurch, where the research headquarters were located in the Biology Department of Canterbury University College. As Chairman of the Committee during its existence, and as the only member with an official or professional interest in fishery matters, I would like to take this opportunity of placing on record my sincere appreciation of the substantial services gratuitously but steadily and earnestly given by the above-named gentlemen to the task of the advancement of fresh-water-fishery science in New Zealand ; also to express the hope and belief that the co-operation with them and with acclimatization societies will continue and develop, for, although the fresh-water research organization has changed its name and its address, it will still work in the general interest of all New Zealand anglers. A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries.

5 —H. 15.

33