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2. That Fishery Commissioners be appointed for New Zealand, consisting of gentlemen with some knowledge of the subject, and who take an interest in it, whose duty it would be to advise the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, and endeavour to infuse new life into the industry, under skilled supervision. Such Commissioners should have a fairly free hand, and a practical organizing Inspector to work under them, together with the assistance of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. 3. That a report be prepared as to the present state of the fisheries in the colony, with suggestions as to the best means of improving and fostering such industry in each locality. 4. That arrangements be made for testing fishing-grounds round the coast by subsidising one of the small steam-trawlers, with a good practical man in charge, and that the trawling industry be encouraged— (a) By inducing the local bodies to provide suitable fish-markets ; (b) by endeavouring to induce the shipping companies to provide better means of transport of fish to Australian markets; (c) by fostering the canning and fish-curing industry, and pointing out how the byproducts, such as oil, fish manure, &c, can profitably be dealt with; (d) by carrying fish by rail at the lowest possible rates; and (c) by publishing reliable data as to the results of the tests made on the coast, so as to assist local trawlers and induce some of the large English trawling firms to take up the business. 5. That one or more marine scientific stations be established, and reliable data as to the temperature, currents, and marine life round our coasts be collected and published. 6. That arrangements be made for careful tests and experiments being made in Europe and America as to the best and most economical method of introducing such fish as the herring, haddock, turbot, &c, into these waters; and that Crustacea such as crabs and lobsters be imported and planted at the marine scientific station for breeding purposes. 7. That the fur seal be very stringently protected, and rookeries, if possible, re-established on the coasts. 8. That the oyster-fisheries be regulated and conserved, the Commissioners of Fisheries being especially instructed to devote considerable attention to this branch of the fisheries. With its extent of coast and abundance of fish, the Colony of New Zealand ought to be a large fishing centre in the Southern Pacific, and rear a hardy seafaring population, which would be invaluable in time of war. These Islands lie between latitudes 34° to 47° south, the same latitudes as, say, from the north of Africa to Switzerland or Central France, in Europe. Wellington is on about the same latitude as Naples. Doubtless the climate of this colony is much influenced by ocean surroundings and currents; but I feel confident that if the fish-supply were abundant and cheap the health of the inhabitants of New Zealand would be much benefited by substituting to a certain extent a lighter diet of fish for the present heavy meat diet, and, as we have markets abroad for our meat, the farming industry would not be interfered with materially. In countries fortunate enough to possess a large supply of food-fishes the harvest of the waters is recognised as a great and extremely reproductive one for the employment of labour and capital, and it seems to me unwise to allow this great wealth to lie comparatively ungarnered at our doors. DEEP-SEA TRAWLING. At Aberdeen, Leith, Hull, and Grimsby I had an opportunity of inspecting deep-sea trawlers and liners, and also the system of packing fish. The steam-trawler " Brazilian," shown in the attached Plate 11., may be taken as an average Grimsby trawler; the length over all was 117 ft.; beam, 20 ft. 6 in.; depth, lift. 8 in.; gross tonnage, 183; and speed, 106 knots. The cost of such a steam-trawler as the " Brazilian " is about £5,000 ready for sea, and a crew of from eleven to thirteen men would be required to work her. I furnish herewith details of the arrangement of space on board.* These ships are provided with an insulated ice-store and packing-chambers for the fish. Before leaving port the store is filled with crushed ice; and the fish, when caught, are placed in the packing - chambers in the following order: A layer of crushed ice on the floor of the chamber; then a single layer of fish, neatly placed; the fish are then covered with ice; boards fitting into the side of the packing-chamber are then placed above this layer of fish and ice, forming a shelf, on which the next layer of fish are placed; and so on up to the top of the chamber. By packing thus, with boards between each layer of fish, they are not injured by the weight of those above. If packed in ice as soon as caught, fish keep fresh a long time. The trawlers I saw come in to Grimsby had been over two weeks out, some of them bringing their fish twelve hundred miles, from near the coast of Iceland. Besides having insulated storage for dead fish, a good many trawlers are what is called " welled boats," and carry the fish alive to port. In encouraging deep-sea trawling, the Government would be doing valuable work in building up an important industry. It means providing a regular and plentiful supply of fish for all classes at a reasonable price. In the past it has been a general complaint all over the colony that the supply of fish has been insufficient, irregular, and far too high in price to allow it to be a staple foodsupply for all classes. Thus, the inauguration of deep-sea trawling in New Zealand waters means : First, placing a regular and sufficient supply of fresh fish within the reach of every one; second, the opening-up of an important trade in fresh fish with Australia; and third, the establishment of more fish-curing and -canning factories, and the manufacture of various fish products, which will provide a new source of employment for the people, and materially assist in increasing the population as well as the earning-capacity of our workers. In her fisheries (both-sea and fresh-water) New Zealand has a most valuable asset, as her natural advantages in this connection are undoubtedly superior to those possessed by any other country in the Southern Hemisphere.

* The plan of the internal fittings cannot well be reproduced here, but is left with the Marine Department.