5

H.—6

Measures attends the fish-market at Christchurch two or three times a week. It is not advisable to allow the use of a beam-trawl, and it is doubtful whether it could be used, on account of the number of stumps in the lake. W. F. Warner (hotelkeeper, Christchurch) : The flounders I can obtain in Christchurch are far too small for consumption. My opinion is that these small flounders are immature, and are taken before they have spawned. Unless I get them from Sumner, or New Brighton, or Akaroa I cannot obtain any fit to put on the table. I find the fish I get from Lake Ellesmere not fit to put upon the table. I certainly consider that the minimum size should be increased to at least 10in. There is a much greater demand now for flounders than there used to be, and more fishermen are employed catching them. 7th Maech, 1893. Sir John Hall: I would suggest that the Commission should not take it for granted that the supply of flounders has decreased ; I have never had any proof that the supply has diminished. The fact of small flounders appearing in the fishermen's shops is no proof that large ones are not to be got. It rather shows that the existing law is not carried out. This is the fault of the Administration. If the supply has diminished, the Commission will not take it for granted that the size of the mesh is the cause without further inquiry. I have given much attention to the subject during the last five years, and the information which I have gathered leads me to believe that it is rather the frequency with which the lake is let out which tends to the diminution of the size and the quantity of the flounders. The fact is that the flounders have not time to grow to a large size before the lake is let out, and they are swept into the sea. Practically, very few of them return to the lake. Another cause of the diminution of supply is that the lake is let out in immediate proximity to the favourite spawning-beds, and at a season when the spawn has been deposited; the consequence is that the outrush of water carries a large quantity of spawn with it. I really believe these two causes have more to do with the diminished size and supply, if it exists, than any other. The particular spot at which the lake was let out was brought by me under the notice of the Government, and another place was suggested at which the lake could be let out 'without damage to the spawning-bed. The Selwyn County Council inquired into the matter, and the Chairman, Mr. David Mac mill an, agreed that this would be an improvement. The Railway Commissioners, who let out the lake for the protection of the Little Biver Eailway, declined to make any change, because it would make an additional expense of about £30. I would like to draw the attention of the Commissioners to the difficulty of applying a different rule as to the size of the flounder to different localities that supply the same market —that is, to allow one sized fish to be caught at Lyttelton and Sumner and another size at Lake Ellesmere. If undersized fish were found in the fishmongers' shops in Christchurch they would be said to come from Lyttelton or Sumner. I have received a letter from Mr. Sullivan, of Dunedin, giving the opinion of the Dunedin fishermen regarding Mr. Wright's flounder Bill, which I think well worthy the attention of the Commission, and I herewith hand it to the Commissioners for their perusal. I would also like to call the attention of the Commission to the facts that by the Treaty of Waitangi, and the deed of sale of this part of the Middle Island, the Maoris are guaranteed in the undisturbed possession of their fisheries. lam informed that the Maoris at Tauinutu depend in summer very largely on the fishery for their subsistence, and in the winter almost entirely so, and I submit, therefore, that the Government should be exceedingly cautious not to do what might bo held to be an unreasonable interference with the fishing-rights of the Natives. At page 15 of the printed correspondence there is a petition from the Natives at Tauinutu on the subject. I would submit that what appears to me to be required is some actual supervision of the fishery; at present, the only supervision is an occasional visit by the police constable. I believe it would be well worth the while of the Government to appoint an inspector to look after the fishery industry in Canterbury. The Lake Ellesmere fishermen have expressed their willingness to pay a moderate license-fee towards providing the salary of such an officer; unless something of the kind is done it is of no use altering the law. The fishermen, as a whole, are a steady, well-conducted set of men, and would, I believe, be glad of the appointment of such an officer. B. G. Warnes (fishmonger, Christchurch) : I bring herewith six exhibits of flounders. Exhibit No. 1 is from Lake Ellesmere, and is 9-Jin. long ; Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were caught in Lake Ellesmere by Peter and Matthew Alec. The black flounder (No. 7) is from Sumner. I think flounders are allowed to be taken much too small. In my opinion, they ought not to be taken of a less size than llin. or 12in. I get my chief supply of flounders from the Lake Ellesmere. They seldom run over 10in. The great bulk of them—say, three-fourths of them—are under 10in. We get the largest flounders from Lyttelton, and occasionally New Brighton Beach. In the case from which No. 1 was taken Ido not think more than two dozen were larger than No. 1. The flounders vary in price. In summer time, when they are plentiful, they would probably run from 6s. to 10s. per case ; and in winter, when scarce, from £1 to, occasionally, £2. My experience during the last few years is that the flounders coming from Lake Ellesmere have been gradually getting smaller, so that now the great bulk of them are very small. The smaller the flounder the less flavour it has. Sometimes, as regards the black flounders from Lake Ellesmere, the roe is half the fish. The flounders taken in the sea are more solid and better flavoured than those coming from Lake Ellesmere. Formerly we used to get a large supply of good flounders from the lake, but we do not do so now. Professor Hutton (Christchurch) : I would like to say that what might be useful and necessary for Lake Ellesmere would not be suitable for open-sea fisheries, as there is no question of exterminating flounders in the open sea, but in Lake Ellesmere it is quite a possibility that they might be exterminated altogether, so that the remarks I wish to make apply to Lake Ellesmere only. I find there are two species in Lake Ellesmere —the common flounder, or patiki (lihombosolea monopus), and the black flounder (lihombosolea retiaria). The common flounder is often found in rivers, but I never heard of the black flounder being found in fresh water anywhere but in Lake