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but no winding-handle was attached at the time of our inspection. There is no adequate space for hanging the fishermen's nets, a very necessary convenience in a port with a large fishing-fleet. The berthage rates, £1 ss. per annum for small boats and up to £2 10s. per annum for the larger ones, appear to be high in view of the facilities provided. The wharfage rates are reasonable. A slipway is available at a reasonable rate. Akaroa. —The harbour facilities here are very good, more especially as no charge is levied except a reasonable wharfage on the fish. The only facility missing is a slipway, and this is a serious omission at any fishing port. There was a slip some years ago, but it had been erected in the wrong place and had no one in charge. This structure fell into disrepair. Through the lack of a slip, the fishermen lose considerable time. It was suggested that the local Council would give favourable consideration to the erection of a slip on certain terms. Kaihoura. —As this is practically an open roadstead, the conditions here make it somewhat difficult for the fishermen. So far as slipway accommodation is concerned, the only complaint is the charge of ss. per day after the fourth day. The fishermen consider that when they are unable to get off the slip because of the weather conditions this charge should be remitted. A light crane is required to assist the fishermen in unloading their catches. The most important request, and one which this Committee considers reasonable was that the anchorage should be cleared of sunken rocks so as to allow the boats sufficient swinging room. In an open roadstead it is essential that the boats when moored should have plenty of swinging room not only to avoid bumping other boats or rocks, but to allow the use of sufficient chain to mitigate the effect of the heavy surge. West Coast. Greymouth.—The facilities available for the fishing-fleet at Greymouth are by no means satisfactory. There is inadequate berthage for the number of vessels. To some extent this is due to the layout of the harbour, but accommodation could be provided on the inlet at the end of the wharf. Facilities for landing the catch are conspicuous by their absence, the fish having to be hauled up by hand from the deck of the vessel to the wharf, and as the height range between high and low water is very great this imposes a needless hardship on the men. The fish, after being landed in the wharf, have still to be carried across three lots of rails, often filled with trucks, to the motor-vans. No slipway or substitute accommodation is available for the vessels, some of which have to go to Westport, where they can be safely beached for repairs. No charge is made for berthage at Greymouth, but it would be in the interests of the fishermen if such a charge were levied and reasonable accommodation provided. Westport. —At Westport suitable berthage is available free of cost, a grid is available at times, and, in any case, there are good places where a vessel may be beached so that repairs to any part of the hull may be carried out. Nelson, Picton, and Wairau Bar. Nelson. —At Nelson the main complaint with regard to harbour facilities was the inadequate berthage space provided. It is admitted that no berthage charge is made, but it would be better if the fishermen had to pay a small annual fee, and in return were provided with sufficient mooring space for their boats. Facilities for the landing of fish are absent and should be provided. Very good slipway accommodation is provided at a most moderate charge, and the Board is to be congratulated on this part of the facilities, as in many ports the slipway accommodation is either unsatisfactory or absent altogether. Picton. —At Picton the harbour facilities are excellent and compare more than favourably with any port in New Zealand. The fishermen only desire one more facility, and that is the provision of a suitable weighing-machine so that their fish may be weighed before shipment to Wellington. The fishermen are quite willing to pay a small fee for each sack of fish weighed in addition to the usual wharfage. Wairau Bar. —The Wairau Bar fishermen reported that they had no slip either inside the bar or at Blenheim, and that they had to proceed to Picton when they required the use of a slipway. The Committee was unable to inspect the facilities at Wairau Bar. Napier. This is one of the most burning questions among fishermen and fishing interests at Napier. Every witness who appeared before the Committee condemned the facilities provided and the charges levied by the Harbour Boad in no uncertain terms. The main items of complaint were : — (1) The loss of time and earning-capacity, due to insufficient depth in the channel leading up to the " Iron Pot." (2) Bad berthage arrangements, with no fixed tenure of berths. (3) Lack of facilities' for landing fish from the boats. (4) Lack of suitable channel to the only available slipway. (5) Lack of slip accommodation at a reasonable cost. (6) Excessive overtime charge for water supplied after 5 p.m. (7) Excessive wharfage charged by the Harbour Board.

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