H.—lo.

14

number of honest and industrious men who have families to support, and who would, by this destruction of their industry, be added to the ranks of the unemployed. That your petitioners do not object to any well-considered measures which may be found necessary to preserve the supply of fish, but they protest against unnecessary and useless regulations recommended by persons ignorant of the conditions of the case. Your petitioners, therefore, earnestly pray that your Excellency will not agree to any important changes in the existing law or regulations without a full inquiry and report by competent authority as to the necessity for, and probable effect of, such changes. And your petitioners, &c. A. Megaldo and 47 others.

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to the Hon. Sir J. Hall. Sic, — Marine Department, Wellington, 3rd March, 1891. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th January last, forwarding a petition as to flounderfishing in Lake Bllesmere from a number of fishermen residing on the shores of that lake; and, in reply, I am to state that no proposals for closing the lake against fishing for flounders have reached the Government, and any proposals with reference to fishing therein will be most carefully considered before being acted on. I have, &c, Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary. The Hon. Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G., &c, Hororata, Christchurch.

Mr. G. Tibbs to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sik,— 41, Colombo Street, Christchurch, 23rd July, 1891. In common with other fishmongers and fish-purveyors in this city, I have to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that it is very desirable to introduce into the Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill, now before the House, a clause prohibiting the present net which is used for taking flounders. Instead of being of herring-size as now, the mesh should be increased in width, so as to admit of the escape of small flounders. As it is now the small flounders, though not brought into the market, are drowned, and the consequence is that during the past few years it is almost impossible to provide a decent flounder for sale to the public; in fact, the present laws will bring about the extermination of this most excellent fish. If a copy of the present Bill could be supplied to me I would, with others in the trade, suggest the necessary amendments to protect the small fish. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Geoege Tibbs, Fishmonger.

The Assistant Seceetaby, Marine Department, to Mr. G. Tibbs. Sik, — Marine Department, Wellington, Ist September, 1891. I have been directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd July last, addressed to the Colonial Secretary, in which you urge that provision may be made in the Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, as to the size of the mesh of floundernets ; and, in reply, I am to inform you that the matter is now under the consideration of the Government. I have, &c, Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary. Mr. George Tibbs, Fishmonger, 41, Colombo Street, Christchurch.

To the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby, Wellington. The petition of the undersigned showeth, — 1. That whereas we, your petitioners, are and have for some time past been engaged in fishing in Lake Bllesmere. 2. And whereas we are by law prohibited from taking from the said lake any flounder of less length than 9in. 3. And whereas we are informed that it is proposed to amend such law so as to prohibit any fishermen from taking from the said lake any flounder of less length than Hill. 4. And whereas if such an amendment become law it will seriously interfere with our livelihood, there being now in the said lake but very few flounders over llin. in length. 5. And whereas it has been found that the existing law has worked satisfactorily. We, your petitioners, pray that the said existing law may remain unaltered. And your petitioners will ever pray. Frank Thian. H. Vince. Andrew Nicholas. A. Lindrose. Henry Davis. T. Wilkinson. Peter Nelson. Antonio Megaldo.. C. Johnson.

Mr. G. Eeddish to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. (Telegram.) Thames, 21st August, 1891. At a meeting of the Thames fishermen it was resolved to appeal to you, as the member for the district, first, to oppose at once any increase in the size of flounders; second, on account of the ignorance of the member for Ashburton, Mr. Wright. Flounders were never more plentiful than during this last summer. Unsaleable in Auckland, owing to the vast quantities sent from the Thames. The Hon. Mr. Cadman, Geoege Eeddish, Native Minister, M.H.E. for Thames, Wellington, (For Thames fishermen.)