H.—3l

4

the crew of the "Julia Pryce," from Earotonga, and £3 10s. 6cl. to the Victorian Government for passage of one of the crew of tine "Lurline." £10 11s. fid. has been expended in replenishing the depots for the castaways in the Auckland, Campbell, and Antipodes Islands, and £87 13s. lid. in establishing similar depots in the Kermadec Group. There has also been expended £61 Is. for passages of the crews of the "Shannon "and " Electra," both of London; but this amount has been refunded by the Board of Trade. Wages and Effects of Deceased Seamen,—Timing the year the estates of twenty-eight deceased seamen have been dealt with : £35 4s. sd. has been paid to relatives or creditors, and £43 4s. lOd. paid into the Public Account in accordance with the provisions of section 87 of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877." Survey of Steamers and Inspection of Machinery. — Certificates of survey under "The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," have been issued to 185 steamers, of 30,302 aggregate tonnage, and 10,690 horse-power, as against 202 steamers of 31,640 aggregate tonnage, and 10,548 horse-power in the previous year. Certificates of exemption under the provisions of section 201 of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," and subsection (2) of section 2 of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1885," were issued during the year for the under-mentioned steamers : " Waitangi" and " Fairlight," both being exempted from employment of certificated masters. 1 would draw attention to the remarks made in last year's report as to the first-class steamers being only surveyed once a year. The new Marine Board Act in Victoria makes provision, for this, and I would therefore recommend, in. order to make the practice in this colony the same as elsewhere, that the Shipping and Seamen's Act of 1877 be amended, so as to enable this to be done here. It would be desirable at the same time to provide that small steam-launches not carrying passengers should not be compelled to carry certificated masters. The reports of the Inspectors of Machinery will be found at the end of the report. Owing to the revival of trade, and more especially to the large increase of flax-mills, 273 more boilers have been inspected than last year. The work has been getting into arrears owing to the Inspectors being unable to cope with it. For instance, the Napier District could not be done during the last year: instead of the Inspector going there in February, he was unable to do so until quite recently. Another Inspector should be appointed as soon as possible, and when this is done the work will be able to be kept in hand, unless any large increase of the number of boilers used should take place. Wrecks and Casualties. —The accompanying table shows an analysis of the casualties reported. Those on the coast of the colony number 50, representing tonnage amounting to 10,024 tons as against 54 casualties affecting 16,420 tons in the previous year. There is a decrease in the number of total wrecks within the colony; 14 vessels of 2,991 aggregate tonnage being lost as against 19 vessels of 5,120 aggregate tonnage in the previous year. There is also a decrease in the number of lives lost during the year, being 31 as against 33 in the previous year; those lost in the colony being 19 as against 31 last year. Of the lives lost on or near the coasts of the colony, 4 were lost from the s.s. "Kahu," 3 in the "Colonist," 4 in the "Mimiha," 2 in the "Lizzie Guy," 3 in the " Coquette," and 1 each from the " Lizzie Guy," s.s. " lona," and " Nellie." Of those lost beyond the colony, 8 were lost in the " Celestia," and 1 each from the " Selene," " Glenlora," " Chili," and " Turakina." Fisheries. — Oysters : The oyster-beds in the bays in Tory Channel have been closed until the 31st January, 1892, and the close season for rock-oysters in Coromandel, Hauraki Gulf, and Bay of Islands has been further extended until the 31st December next. Proceedings have been taken from time to time against persons infringing the regulations relative to close seasons. In order to preserve the rock-oyster beds from destruction it would be most desirable to have power to lease for a term of years parts of the foreshore on which rock-oysters are found, these leases to be subject to strict conditions as to maintaining the beds in a proper manner. Imported Fish. —A sum of money having been voted for the introduction of salmon-ova, the Government asked the Otago and Southland Acclimatisation Societies whether they would undertake to hatch such ova out, and place all the fry in the Aparima Eiver, Southland, this river being considered a very suitable one for salmon ; it also being considered desirable, in accordance with the views of eminent pisciculturists, to place as many fry as possible in the one river with the view of ascertaining definitely, if possible, whether the acclimatisation of salmon can be made a success in our waters. This the societies agreed to. Accordingly, an order was sent Home to the AgentGeneral to expend £500 in sending salmon-ova, the result being that 150,200 were sent in the "Arawa," and 482,650 in the " Aorangi." The first shipment proved remarkably successful, but those in the " Aorangi" were not in so good condition. Correspondence on the subject of this importation will be laid before Parliament. In connection with placing the salmon-fry in the Aparima Eiver, steps were taken by Order in Council to prohibit any net-fishing in this river ; a petition was received from the men who had been engaged in fishing at Biverton, complaining of this action, and Messrs. Bain and Denniston were asked by the Government to report on the matter at issue. They recommended that netting should continue to be prohibited, and that the sum of £150 should be paid to the fishermen as compensation. Their report has been adopted, and (since the close of the financial year) the money has been paid as recommended. In connection with their inquiry, an examination was made to see if the salmon-fry placed in the Aparima some time before were still there, the result being that a large number of parr were seen, and several captured. Some of them appeared to be assuming the smolt attire. The main point, however, is, will these fish, which should have gone down to sea in the autumn, return from the sea. Judging from analogy, they should return as grilse in January or February next. I recommend that steps be taken to ascertain, if possible, whether they do return, for if they do the acclimatisation of salmon may be considered a success, and steps should at once be taken to stock other rivers.