STEWARTS ISLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 7 December 1878, Page 6

STEWARTS ISLAND.

I The following extract is from the quarterly report of the Coastwaiter at Stewart's Island. Erery occupation within the district has been remarkably quiet during the past September quarter. The sealing and oystering in former times generally made the corresponding season a busy one, but so unfavorable has the weather been to all out door employments that it became inpracticable to carry them on has heretofore. Fortunately no loss of life or Berious damage has taken place. In the matter of sealing, none of the boats this year attempted to vist the seal haunts on the coast, and only one party of seven men went to the Snares. They were safely landed there, but it is unknown as yet what success they have mat with, as the vessel appointed to take them off has cot yet returned with them. Another party was got up to visit the Sounds on the West Coast ; but through the weather or some other cause they did not start until three weeks ago, and I presume they might as well have remained at home, looking at the short remnant of the open season then left them. Still another of 30 tons left about the same time for Auckland Isknds, having seven men on board. Their expressed intention was to extend their operations as far as the Campbells m search of seals or whatever else they could pick up, and they were to remain away three months. There were twelve cutters in all oil and on engaged in oystering The area dredged on was on that part lying between the Half-moon Bay oyster bed, and the Neck. Four hundred dozen was the greatest number of oysters dredged from it in one day by a sin-le cutter. The oysters appear to be somewhat larger than those fouqd in the Half-moon Bay bed. Along with the oysters the dredge brings up a few dead shells, a very few ot the star fish called five fingers, and also a few small stones similar in colour to the oysters, but no seaweed. The whole number of oysters obtained from this small area sinee the first of April would be about eighty thousand dozen. The depth of water covering the bed is from 110 to 140 feet ; the velocity of tide from 2 to 3 miles per hour. There have been three well cutters at work, but as a money speculation it has not paid, owing to the weather. To say that fish had been, scarce in the Stewarts Island waters may appear strange, but it is nevertheless true, whether from the low temperature of the water near there, or from its being unusually agitated, or from the excessive rain-fall, or aome other cause, there can be no doubfc that a large proportion of

the fnh have taken to water more distant from the shore. There still remain two places at which fish can be alwavs caught. One of them is situated to the westward of Saddle Point, and the'othor i9 between the chain of islands which lie about six miles east-north-easfc from this place. Both of these places are however very much [exposed, and can only be used in moderate weather. Ot caurse the fish-curing establisments have suffered as well a3 the fishing boats. About thaee weeks ago I happened to visic the fish curing works afc Horse-shoe Bay, aud the foreman told me "they had not got a fish for ten days," and that although the company have got two fishing cuttere of their own. I simply mention these matters by the way, although I do not believe they . have any permanent bearing on the prosperity of the place, because it only requires a change in the weather to restore everything to its old footing.