H.—No. 1

ON COLONIAL INDUSTRIES.

23

FtTETHEE MEMOEANDTJM OK FISHEBIES. I received the accompanying Memorandum on Fisheries from Dr. Perston, of Wangarei, by the last Auckland mail, which I beg to submit for the information of the Committee. The statistics, collected from reliable sources by Dr. Perston, serve to show what may reasonably be anticipated from the successful establishment of fisheries on the New Zealand coast, with the Eastern countries open to us a market. At the same time, 1 desire to supplement what I have already stated relative to the establishment of coast fisheries in Auckland. Messrs. McLeod and Perston inform me by letter, dated sth September, 1871, that in consequence of the favourable reception of their application by Dr. Pollen, Government Agent at Auckland, for a fishery reserve of 500 acres at Tutukaka, in the Matiporou Block, thirteen miles north of Wangarei Harbour, they erected a station, and procured all the appliances for making a start; but they now find, through some unexplained cause, that their application is not favourably entertained. This is to be regretted, inasmuch as the land is of no intrinsic value for settlement purposes. It is, however, well adapted for a fishing station, and was selected for their head station by Messrs. McLeod and Perston, because it possessed timber suitable for boat-building and other purposes, adjacent to the harbour, which is land-locked, and safe in all weather. I am likewise informed by them that, contrary to expectation, the Provincial Government of Auckland has made a reserve in their favour of the block of laud for which they applied at Wharenaka; but this reserve is only suited for an out-station, being unsafe in easterly weather. I would suggest, with the view of encouraging coast fishing in New Zealand, that the Government be authorized to make concessions of land along the coast to individuals or associations who may engage in that enterprise; and that in the special case referred to, the application of Messrs. McLeod and Perston for the Tutukaka Block, be recommended to the favourable consideration of the Government. The land, although still in the hands of the General Government, is in reality part of the public estate of the Province ; and the intention of the Auckland Provincial Council and Government in regard to this matter is shown by the resolutions and appropriation referred to in my first memorandum, and the more recent concession of the Wharenaka Keserve. This is a case in which liberal views should be entertained, the vast importance to the Colony at large from the establishment of coast fisheries, and the creation of an export trade in dry and cured fish, being so apparent. I may remark in this place, that the French Government, besides paying a bounty for all fish brought from Newfoundland in French bottoms, and landed in good condition at their West Indian Colonies, rate all Frenchmen engaged in the fisheries as if serving in the navy, and they are entitled to the same scale of pensions as if they had served in the navy. Dr. Perston says in his letter (and I agree with him), that " it is indispensable to the success of the scheme that land should be available for the settlement of fisherman. As a class, they are very much attached to their little holdings." It would be impolitic to grant a tonnage bounty on vessels employed in the fisheries. Many English vessels obtained the fishery bounty without catching fish. A bounty on every cental of fish, properly cured, and entered for export at the Customs, is not open to this objection, The industry once thoroughly established, the bounty might be gradually withdrawn. As a protection to the revenue, by discouraging smuggling, there should be a remission of Customs duties on all stores, &c, used bv fishermen in their calling. If this were refused, from the nature of their business they would obtain these stores duty free, and, in all likelihood, be tempted to evade the revenue laws for other purpose. Touching the progress made by Messrs. Perston and McLeod, I may add that everything was ready for a successful start early this month, and that they only waited for favourable weather to commence fishing in earnest. They have negotiated for a site at Whangaruru from the Natives besides the stations at Tutukaka and Wharenaka already taken up. Their enterprise has attracted another settler to Tutukaka, Sir Robert Douglas, of Wangarei, having purchased a section of land from the Natives in a sheltered bay in Tukukaka Harbour. September, 1871. Bobeet J. Ceeighton. Memorandum on Fisheeies by Dr. Peeston. FisnEWES have claimed extensively the attention of maritime Governments for many and varied reasons. They form nurseries for sailors and pilots ; they give profitable employment to large communities ; their product forms not only a cheap and wholesome article of food for home consumption, but also a very valuable export. It is a very healthy occupation, and, if largely followed in a small community like this, would materially tend to foster the growth of a hardy, stalwart race of men, who, with a little training, would form a formidable flotilla against any invading force. Statistics of Fisheries. At an average of the three years ending with 1789, Great Britain had 402 ships, 1,911 boats, and 16,856 men engaged in the American fisheries. The total value of the Newfoundland fishery in 1814 exceeded £2,800,000. The average annual produce of the fisheries exported from Newfoundland during the three years ending 1832 is stated by Mr. McGregor at £516,417. There is also a considerable fishery from the ports and harbours of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, New Brunswick, &c. But next to that of Newfoundland, the principal British fishery is carried on along the coast of Labrador, its produce being estimated at from £300,000 to £350,000 a year. The exportation of fish from Newfoundland was as follows:—1832, £319,265 ; 1833, £455,672 ; 1834, £443,577. In 1836 the number of British vessels engaged in the Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries amounted to ninety-four, with 721 men ; the boats employed were 11,427 ; fishermen and boys, 49,720 ; coopers, 1,916 ; fish-curers, 1,916 ; persons employed in cleansing, drying, and packing the fish, 26,038 ;