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imported with so much trouble and expense would sadly suffer, and the native flounders would be utterly destroyed. However, some really decent fishermen inform me that it would be a concession which would be of much benefit to them if the mesh was reduced from the present regulation size of 4Jin. to 4in., and they have supplied me with the sample of the 4in. mesh enclosed. I also forward two letters received by me in reply to queries furnished from me. If the mesh is reduced to 4in. it would be desirable to supply printed leaflets to distribute to the fishermen at Lake Ellesmere. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department. Alex. Eose, Collector of Customs.

Dear Sir, — Leeston, 27th October, 1887. I have made careful inquiry as to the fish that are to be caught in the lake, and I find that the following are to be caught, some in more abundance than others, especially when the lake is running out to sea: Herrings, in abundance; rock-cod, in abundance; garfish, none; trevally, a few; mullet, have not seen any ; soles, a few; eels, in abundance ; kawhai,in abundance; hapuka, in abundance ; ling, in abundance. There are three kinds of fish not mentioned in your list that are to be caught in any quantity — hapuka, ling, and kawhai. I saw Mr. Fred Overtoil the other day and he told me that he has seen shoals of kawhai in the lake below his house. I send you the names of the fishermen I got the pieces of netting from—John Stritz, John Oberhuber, John France. If there is any further information you require I shall be very glad to collect it for you. Yours, &c, E. A. Hall.

Sib, — Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Christchurch, 12th November, 1887. Adverting to our conversation the other day re mesh of nets for use on Lake Ellesmere, I may say at once that a 2in. mesh would deplete the lake of all its fish in a very short time, for any net that will take garfish or trevally will certainly take out the trout and salmon placed in it by the acclimatisation society at great expense. A 4in. mesh is small enough to take flat fish of the legal size, and any of the coarse fish that visit the lake when the outlet is open. Therefore, I trust the Government will not sanction anything less. Yours, &c, S. C. Farr, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. A. Eose, Esq., Collector of Customs, Christchurch.

Memorandum to the Collector, H.M. Customs, Christchurch. With reference to your letter No. 102, of the 14th November last, I have to inform you that it has been provided in the new Fisheries Eegulations, which appeared in the New Zealand Gazette of the 12th instant, that the mesh of the nets used in Lake Ellesmere shall be not less than 4in. These regulations are now being made up in pamphlet form, and copies will be sent to you for distribution as soon as ready. 16th July, 1888. Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary.

The Honobary Secretary, Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sic, — Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Christchurch, 6th March, 1888. I am directed by the council to address you on the question of preserving the salmon that have been introduced into the waters of our district, and I may state for your information that for more than twenty years many attempts have been made to introduce this noble fish, and several thousand pounds of private and public money have been expended in experiments, none of which, so far as we know, proved a success; but from the importation in 1885 about five hundred parr were put in the River Selwyn, one of the tributaries of Lake Bllesmere. The waters of this lake are brackish, and at particular seasons have an opening into the Pacific Ocean; thus the fish have a range of many miles of water favourable in every respect, also grounds for the deposition of their ova, already proved to be good beyond a doubt, as two young fish have been taken by Dr. Anderson when netting for live bait in the Selwyn. They were from 1-J-in. to 2in. long, and the transverse bars on the sides which distinguish this fish were plain to be seen —a sufficient proof, we think, that our efforts so far have been crowned with success, and the possibility of the reproduction of the salmon naturally in these waters an established fact. This fact has caused the society's council much anxiety as to the best means of protecting them until they are fully established. After making many inquiries, and entering into long discussions on the subject, in which the interests of the fishermen were not overlooked, the council agreed to the following resolution, viz.: "That this Council petition the Governor to close Lake Bllesmere to all net-fishing for the next two years, on account of the flounders and the salmon experiment." I enclose for your perusal a clipping from the Press newspaper containing report of proceedings of the meeting at which the resolution was carried. In conclusion, I would urge upon you the necessity of giving effect to our request at an early date, as next month the parent fish will be seeking their spawning-grounds, and naturally make for the rivers for depositing their ova, which the nets will prevent. I have, &c, S. C. Fare, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Government Buildings, Wellington.