H.—44A.

COMPLETE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

PRODUCTION. Trawling. New Zealand. 1. That the size of the mesh in the cod-end of all trawls be raised to 5 in. immediately, exemption being granted to those vessels operating at present to allow them to use up the gear in hand. 2. That all research carried on abroad as to the escapement of undersized fish from trawls be studied and adopted if found satisfactory under our conditions of fishing. Napier. 3. That at Napier both trawlers and seiners be kept off the inshore grounds. 4. That at Napier there be no further increase in the number of fishing-boats using power-drawn nets for at least five years unless statistics show a remarkable increase in the total annual landings of flat fish over a period of at least three years. 5. That efforts be made to find a suitable outlet for the excess catches of gurnard, red cod, skate, and other varieties which are at present dumped by the Napier trawlers. With proper treatment it should be possible to utilize all the red cod and gurnard caught. East Cape to North Gape. 6. That trawlers be subject to the same restrictions as first-class Danish-seiners. Cook Strait. 7. That an investigation be made to determine the following questions : — (a) Is Palliser Bay a spawning-ground for groper ? (b) Is Palliser Bay a, nursery ground for young groper ? (c) If it is a nursery ground for young groper, do the fish under the legal limit, stay there all the year round or only for certain months in the year ? 8. That, if Palliser Bay is proved to be a spawning or nursery ground, adequate protection from trawling and all other methods of fishing be granted. Danish-seining. South Island. 9. That the Danish-seine method of fishing be abolished all round the coasts of the South Island, the present Danish-seining vessels to be allowed until Ist January, 1939, in which to use up the seine gear which they have aboard or in stock. Napier. 10. That at Napier Danish-seining be abolished by gradual stages, and in the interim Danishseiners be placed on the same restrictions as regards grounds as apply to trawling. Gisborne. 11. That, in view of the effect of Danish-seining at the other trawling ports, we recommend that Danish-seiners be not allowed to operate from Gisborne or anywhere in its vicinity. Danish-seining should be prohibited inside the three-mile limit from Gable End Foreland to Table Cape. Bay of Plenty. 12. That in the Bay of Plenty the present trawling restrictions be applied to Danish-seiners, and, further, that the limits from Matata eastward be extended to the mouth of the Waiaua River. Also, that a two-mile limit be imposed for a distance of three miles on either side of the Whangamata River : Provided that these restrictions shall not apply to any Danish-seiner under 40 ft. in overall length. The 40 ft. exemption shall not be available to any seine boat built or licensed after the passing of the regulation. Whangamata - Mercury Bay. 13. That a limit of one mile off shore be imposed on Danish seine boats from Whangamata to Cape Colville. 14. That an investigation be made to locate any snapper-spawning grounds in this vicinity, and if such grounds are found they should receive protection in the spawning season.

13 —H. 44a.

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