H—ls

The figures for the main types of fish caught over the last five years are given below :

Nelson. —This year's total of 11,314 cwt. continues the steady increase over the past five years at this port. Of this total, 6,530 cwt. was snapper, compared with 6,053 cwt. for last year, and 3,278 cwt. was gurnard, compared with 1,905 cwt. for last year. The annual totals for the various methods of fishing during the past five years are given below :

Chatham Islands.—As the returns for this area were incomplete, the totals for 1947 were given as 5,565 cwt., £6,948. These totals should have been 9,412 cwt., £12,248. The total for this year is 12,490 cwt. All the fish landed at the Chatham Islands are caught by motor line-fishing boats. The figures for the only two types of fish caught oyer the past five years are given below :

The correction referred to above affecting the 1947 catch for the Chatham Islands has not been altered in all other tables referring to the 1947 figures. Exports and Imports The imports of fish for the year amounted to 38,943 cwt. of canned fish such as herring, salmon, sardine, and 1,198 cwt. of fish otherwise preserved, with a total value of £440,811. The total value of fish and shell-fish exported during 1948 was £493,736, which represents an increase of £135,518 on the previous year's figure of £358,218.

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— 1944. 1945. | 1 1946. 1947. 1948. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Total quantity landed 23,264 25,533 23,250 44,849 38,460 Barracouta 6,300 7,502 8,171 13,938 11,262 Soles .. 4,993 6,282 8,366 10,963 9,652 Tarakihi. 3,166 173 81 9,977 8,476 Red cod 4,033 7,605 3,846 2,536 1,304 Flounder 1,163 1,366 745 1,062 766

— 1944. 1945. 1946. 1947. 1948. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Total quantity landed 5,541 6,372 7,078 10,040 11,314 Danish seine 2,714 3,081 2,648 2,098 Trawl (motor) 878 1,888 3,260 7,574 10*683 Lines (motor) 1,936 1,138 1,043 363 623 Other methods 13 265 127 5 8

— 1944. i 1945. 1946. 1947. 1948. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Total quantity landed 4,420 2,078.. 3,586 9,412 12,490 Blue cod 4,248 2,011 3,442 9,246 12,265 Hapuku 172 67 144 166 225