11

H.—lo

catching herring, I have been directed by the Minister having charge of this department to ask if your society will be good enough to express its views on this proposal. I have, &c, Lewis 11. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Christchurch.

The Honoeaby Seceetaey, Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, to the Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department. Sic, — Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Canterbury, 23rd July, 1888. I have to apologize for not replying ere this to yours of the 29th ultimo, but being away in the country collecting ova has prevented me. I am directed to state that we are at a loss how to reply directly to your question, as we do not in any way wish to prevent the fishermen obtaining a livelihood, but our one aim and object to preserve the salmon that have been successfully introduced into these waters after so much anxiety and expense we think is paramount at this time. lam further directed to call attention to yours of the 11th May, 1888, in which (in reply to ours of the 17th April, wherein we ask for an alteration in size of meshes to be, used on that lake) you inform us "That the Government did not see their way to make any further alterations at present." You probably had overlooked this. That the introduction of salmon into some waters of the Southern Hemisphere, after so many trials, has proved to be, so far, a success with our society, I may inform the Government, through the Minister of the Marine Department, that on Friday the 21st instant I saw a number of smolt in the Eiver Selwyn, and, although I had been collecting trout-ova on that stream at frequent intervals extending over a month, only one had been seen until the date referred to, when I saw numbers making their way upstream, and so as to place this pleasing fact on record, and beyond doubt, I had one of them caught with a net, which I handed over to Professor Hutton at the Canterbury Museum, who agreed with me that it was a pure salmon. The fish in the river appear to vary from lOin. to 14in. in length, and in the pink of condition, clad in their smolt attire, having come up from the brackish waters of the lake. Under these circumstances of unprecedented success, knowing also that many thousands of pounds have been expended upon the introduction of this most desirable and valuable fish, I am of opinion that netting on the lake at present is entirely wrong, unless under special and stringent supervision, and will prove destructive to these fish, for the capture of immature salmon without doubt will destroy all our efforts and success, just at the time when a golden harvest appears within our reach, as a reward for our past labours and continued anxiety ; and I am persuaded that there is at the present time the greatest necessity for legislation for the protection of the immature fish from capture and destruction, for upon looking carefully over the present Act, with its accompanying regulations, I am led to ask the question, Are these fish (for which so many attempts have been made, and so much private and public money expended) really protected by law ? I conclude they are not, when such indiscriminate netting can be allowed in the lake all the year round. It is now more than twenty-eight years (25th February, 1860) since the first attempt was made to introduce the Salmo salar into this hemisphere, but up to the last week no capture of a veritable salmon has been chronicled. Many conjectures have been advanced, but from the Eiver Selwyn proof positive of success has been secured. Therefore, my zeal in the cause urges me to ask for prompt and strict legislation to protect and preserve them until they mature, which would doubtless result in a large revenue from the annual take. I have another pleasing and encouraging fact to add connected with this species of fish, viz.: From eggs taken and brought out by me from the Tweed in 1885, ex s.s. " Kaikoura," I reared some fish (now three years old) which I call land-locked salmon, in a special pond made in the society's ground for that purpose. From some of them I have taken spawn this season, which have hatched out, and the alevins are looking remarkably well. This is another unprecedented achievement, the future results of which cannot be estimated, but for which I wish the Government and public would show their appreciation of the success of my labours. I have, &c, S. C. Face, L. H. B. Wilson, Esq., Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington.

Mr. G. Tibbs to the Marine Department. Honoueable Sib, — 41, Colombo Street, 28th October, 1889. I wish to bring under your notice at the head of the Marine Department it is now four years last March I was convicted of having small fish in my possession, which I declared before the Eesident Magistrate of Christchurch, when my solicitor, Mr. Spackman, pleaded conspiracy, and producing the two witnesses who denied selling me the fish. Now, Sir, had regulations of the Fish Clause No. 8, which states, all fish to be returned back into the water alive, which up to date, which they are not able to do, as when they draw their nets they are dead, and likewise when they come back into Lyttelton Harbour. Now, Sir, why are they allowed to sell the small fish, and the larger fish come to Christchurch fish-mart, where I am not able to purchase it, on account of their appointer, who are in league wfth the fish-ring, that has assisted at the railway for a number of years, where card-sharpers, spielers, gaol-birds are allowed to come and take this small fish, which is a cry and evil shame to catch them. Now, Sir, if No. 13 regulation was carried out at Lake Ellesmere, Lyttelton, Sumner, and New Brighton it would do away with so much of this small fish, which means the total destruction of our fishery, as I am sure all through the winter they have allowed to be catching mullets as herring with a herring-net. Herrings when small, and mullets, which when large is their proper name, according to my experience, we have not an English herring in