H.—ls.

21 per cent, in total value. Rock oysters show an increase of 4-2 per cent, in quantity and 4-2 per cent, in value. Quinnat-salmon catches from the three nets fishing in the Waimakariri Estuary for the 1938 season have increased by 484 per cent, of the previous year's total weight (which was the lowest on record) for two nets, with a corresponding rise in value. The commercial landings of mussels dropped from 10,415 sacks to 7,411 sacks (a decline of 28-8 per cent.), their total value being 33 per cent, below that for the previous year, which was £2,809. The total pack of toheroa products declined from 1 0f,936 lb. for the 1936 season to 48,558 lb. for the 1937, but these figures reflect industrial or commercial rather than natural conditions of production. The quantity of whale-oil produced by the Queen Charlotte Sounds Station remains the same as for the 1936 season, but the figure representing the value is 10 per cent, lower than last year. Examination of the more local aspects of the fishing industry during the year shows that the diminution by 7,441 cwt. in the total catch of wet fish for the Dominion is exceeded by the decline in the year's landings for Auckland, which fell from 159,371 cwt. in 1936-37 to 140,234 cwt. in 1937-38, a difference of 19,137 cwt. The supplies of fish to this port, however, still exceed those at any other fishing-centre, and this year constitute 39 per cent, of the total landings for the Dominion. The following shows the annual landings of fish together with the totals for the three most important commercial categories at this port for the last six years : —

It is significant that while the year of maximum landings for snapper and tarakihi was 1936-37, with a 13-per-cent. decline for snapper and a 3-per-cent. decline for tarakihi for the year 1937-38, the maximum year for flounder was 1932-33. The flounder landings for 1937-38 show a 19-per-cent. increase over the total for 1936-37, but they are only 42 per cent, of the total quantity landed in 1932-33. The three Auckland steam-trawlers each operated for part of the year, and there was a decline in the total number of trawler landings (or voyages) made during the twelve-month period —from 117 to 68. These trawlers were responsible for the landing of 22-8 per cent, of the total fish-supplies brought into Auckland. Danish-seining vessels, of which forty-two worked fairly regularly through the year and three for part of the year, brought in 72-4 per cent, of the total, while line-fishing and set-net operations provided the remaining 4-8 per cent. The Manukau Harbour fisheries provided 2,898 cwt., or 2 per cent., of the total landings for the year. The fish-supplies at Thames show an all-round increase on the previous year, and the total value reaches the highest figure that has yet been returned. As will be seen from the following comparative statement for the last six years, the flounder landings, though better than last year, represent about half the annual production for the year 1932-33, which was itself smaller than that for 1931-32 : —

Of the fish brought into Thames 72-8 per cent, was taken by set-nets, 114 per cent, by Danish seine, and 15-8 per cent, by lines. The landings in the Bay of Plenty ports —Mercury Bay, Tauranga, Whakatane, and Opotiki-— are all below what they were last year, the decline for the combined totals being 13 per cent, below the figure for last year. Mainly through augumented trawler catches, Gisborne landings have continued to increase— this year 5,789 cwt., as compared with 4,219 cwt,. last year—but Napier's fish-supply shows a decline from 15,585 cwt. to 13,539 cwt., though the total value is higher, £17,639, as against £15,522 for the previous year. The landings of trawl-caught fish declined by 30-5 per cent., while those from Danish-seiners showed a rise of 7-3 per cent, and the total quantity of line-caught fish increased by 73-3 per cent. This last increase was mainly brought about by the incursion of three vessels from Wellington, one of which, however, was lost in February, 1938.

4 -H. 15.

25

I ! 1932-33. 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Total quantity landed .. 82,758 91,512 102,313 129,209 159,371 140,234 Snapper .. .. .. 49,657 60,540 68,432 88,374 112,656 97,296 Flounder (including dabs) .. 10,452 6,607 6,550 7,560 3,743 4,447 Tarakihi .. .. .. 11,933 10,766 14,293 18,100 24,966 24,240

Fish landed at Thames. 1932-33. ; 1933-34. j 1934-35. 1935-36. . 1936-37. 1937-38. I I 1 I Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Total wet fish .. .. .. 18,078 17,412 17,614 19,134 15,447 18,692 Snapper .. .. .. .. 9,750 10,429 11,163 14,053 11,356 13,400 Flounder (including dabs) .. .. 6,516 4,869 4,769 3,305 2,165 3,044 Total value .. .. .. £14,029 £13,595 £13,957 £14,593 £16,690 £23,174