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accompanied him. Unfortunately, 2,500 acres of bush and tussock country was burnt, and had not the fire been extinguished by heavy rain there is no doubt that the damage to the 16,200 acres of sanctuary, specially set aside for the protection of birds, including one comparatively rare species, would have been much greater. It has not so far been possible to obtain any definite information as to the origin of the fire. Rotorua Acclimatization District. Fisheries.—The fishing season opened on Ist November, 1937. During the latter part of December and in January and February there were large congregations of fish around the mouths of the Waitete, Awahou, and Hamurana Streams, Lake Rotorua. During this time very high temperatures prevailed, causing the fish to seek the cooler waters, and anglers took large numbers of fish. With the exception of Lakes Rotorua and Waikaremoana, fishing was generally rather difficult until March. The rivers in the Bay of Plenty were again subjected to heavy floods. Throughout the whole district the condition of the fish was very good, and a noticeable feature was the large number of young well-conditioned fish. The following are particulars of some of the large fish taken during the season and coming under the notice of the departmental officers : — ROTORUA FISHING DISTRICT. TAUPO FISHING DISTRICT. Weight. Locality in which taken. Weight. Locality in which taken. 14 lb. . . .. Lake Okataina. 10 lb. . . . . Mine Bay. 10 lb. .. • ■ Lake Tarawera. 10$ lb. .. Whakaipo Bay. 101b. .. .. Lake Okataina. 11$ lb. .. Whangamata Bay. 11 lb „ Wlb . „ 12 lb. . . . . Lake Tarawera. 10 lb. . . .. Whakaipo Bay. 91b... .. Lakeßotoiti. Hi lb. .. Tongariro River (delta). 11J lb. .. Ngongotaha. 121b. (brown) .. Waitahanui River. 101b. .. .. Waikato River. 121b. (brown) .. 10 lb. . . . . Lake Okataina. 10$ lb. .. Tongariro River (mouth). 9$ lb. (brown) .. Utuhina Stream. 10$ lb. .. _ ~ (delta.) 12$ lb. .. Te Reinga, Waikaremoana. 10 lb. . . .. Acacia Bay. 12-1- lb. .. Ngongotaha. 131b. .. .. Waitahanui River (outlet). 10 lb. . . „ 14 lb. (brown) . . „ 12 lb (brown) .. Awahou. Hi lb. • • Tauranga-Taupo River. 14 lb. . . .. Utuhina Stream. 101b. .. .. Tongariro River. 101b. .. .. Lake Otakaina. 12$ lb. .. Waitahanui River. 91b. .. .. Waimana River. 10$ lb. .. Waipehibi. 10$ lb. (brown) . . Ngongotaha. 10$ lb . (brown) . . Waitahanui River. 11 lb. . . .. Lake Okataina. 101b. .. .. ~ 10$ lb. . . Tongariro River. 121b. .. 11$ lb. (brown) .. ~ 11 lb. (brown) .. Waitahanui River. 101b. .. 10 lb. .. .. Whakaipo Bay. 10 lb. .. .. Waihora River. 11$ lb. .. „ 11$ lb. .. Tongariro River. 12$ lb. . . Tauranga-Taupo River. 12 lb. (brown) . . Waitahanui River. Fish-hatcheries.—A. new fish-hatchery has been erected at Ngongotaha, Rotorua, and will have about three times the holding-capacity of the previous one. There is an assured and excellent watersupply at the new site. To meet the position in the Waikaremoana district, a larger fish-hatchery has been built and will enable about double the number of fry to be handled there. Fry and Ova. —Stripping operations were confined to the Waihukahuka Stream, a tributary ol the Tongariro River. The number of eggs collected was 6,996,000. An exchange of 250,000 rainbow ova for the same quantity of brown ova was arranged with the North Canterbury Acclimatization Society. Eyed ova amounting to 2,740,000 was sold to various acclimatization societies, also 55,000 fry. The following are particulars of liberations of fry in the various waters in the Rotorua Acclimatization District: — Rotorua District: Lakes Rotorua, 626,000; Rotoiti, 610,000; Okataina, 90,000; Rotoma, 50,000 ; Tarawera, 200,000 ; Okareka, 60,000 ; Rerewhakaitu, 30,000 ; Okaro, 22,500 ; Rotokakahi, 50'000: and Rotoehu, 50,000. Waikato River. 144,000; Taahunaatara and Waipunga Streams, 195,000 and 45,000 respectively. . l „ T . , ~n Ann Bay of Plenty Rivers : Pakahi and Wai-iti, 30,000; Waioeka, 194,000; Waimana, 100,000 ; Whakatane, 140,000 ; Tarawera, 20,000 ; and Whirinaki, 100,000. Wairoa Area: Waikaremoana, 202,500; Ruakituri, 60,000; Waikaretaheke, 55,000; and Waihau, 50,000. In Waikareiti 35,000 ova was planted. Taupo District: Tongariro, 238,000 ; Waitahanui, 147,000 ; Waikato, 165,500 ; lauranga-laupo, 165,000 ; Hatepe, 65,000 : Waipehi, 54,000 ; Waimarino, 67,000 ; Waiotaka, 15,000 ; and Waihi, 18,000. '

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