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22 fathoms, bottom fine sand. Towed east for an hour and twenty minutes, and hauled up in 10 fathoms from a dark-sand bottom at 2.40. This haul gave a fair variety of marketable fish, but the quantity was rather poor. After passing Kaipara a very decided change in the appearance of the bottom was noticeable, the sand changing from white to a fine, dark sand. Station 209 : From last station steamed east for 3 miles, and shot the net for the last haul for the day at 3.30 p.m., 9 miles S. xE. from Kaipara Light, depth 12 fathoms, bottom dark sand. Towed S.E. x E. for 4 miles, and hauled up from the same character of bottom and depth as the net was shot in. Result, a very good bag of schnapper and gurnard. We then anchored for the night. November s.—Station 210 : Hove up anchor at 7 a.m., steamed S.E. 2 miles, and shot the net at 7.40 a.m., 15 miles S. xS. from Kaipara Light; depth 14 fathoms, dark-sand bottom. Towed S.E. an hour and fifty minutes, and hauled up at 9.30 a.m. in 11 fathoms, even dark-sand bottom. This haul yielded very good results both as regards quantity and variety of fish. Station 211 : Steamed S.E. 4 miles, and shot the net at 10.10 a.m., 22 miles S.E. § S. from Kaipara Light; depth 14 fathoms, bottom dark sand. Towed S.E. for 4 miles, and hauled up from the same bottom in 13 fathoms at 11.20 a.m. Result very good. Station 212 : From station 211 steamed S. x W. 4 miles, and shot the net in 23 fathoms, darksand bottom, 12.15 p.m.; position 4 miles S.W. \S. from Oaia Island. Towed S.E. for two hours, and hauled up from the same character of bottom and depth as the net was shot in. The result of this haul was very satisfactory both in quantity and variety of fish. Station 213 : Steamed S x W. 4 miles, and put over the net for the last haul to-day, 4 miles W. J S. from Parera Island ; depth 23 fathoms, dark-sand bottom. Towed S. xE.\ E. for 5 miles, and hauled up in 22 fathoms from a dark-sand bottom at 4.30 p.m. In comparison with the time the net was down, this haul yielded similar results to the last one. Anchored for the night off Manukau Heads. November 6. —Station 214 : Hove up anchor at 6.30 a.m. off Manukau Heads, steamed 6 miles W. x N., and shot the net for the first haul to-day, at 8 a.m., 11 miles W. x S. from Paratutai Island ; depth 30 fathoms, and the usual dark-sand bottom. Towed S.W. xS. for 5 miles, and hauled up at 9.30 a.m., bottom dark sand. Result very good variety, consisting of soles, blue-cod, John-dory, kingfish, moki, gurnard, schnapper, skate, and "trevalli. Station 215 : From station 214 steamed S.E. § S. 5 miles, and shot the net at 10.30 a.m., 16 miles S.W. \W. from Paratutai Island ; depth 40 fathoms, bottom sand and shell. Towed S.S.E. for 5 miles, and hauled up from the same bottom in 38 fathoms at noon. Result very satisfactory. Station 216 : From station 215 steamed 5 miles N.E. \ E., and shot the net at 1.10 p.m., 13 \ miles S.W. xS.\ S. from Paratutai Island ; depth 30 fathoms, bottom fine sand. Towed E. \N. for 5 miles, and hauled up at 2.30 p.m. in 23 fathoms. Result very satisfactory. Station 217 : After hauling up from station 216, steamed 6 miles N.E. § E., and put over the net for the last haul for the day at 3.5 p.m., the position then being 10 miles S. x W. \ W. from Paratutai Island, depth 18 fathoms, fine-sand bottom. Towed 2| miles E.N.E., when the course was altered to N.E. \ N., and we towed up the coast another 2J miles. Hauled up in 10 fathoms at 4.30 p.m. Result very good. Anchored for the night where the net was hauled in. November 7. —Station 218 : Hove up anchor at 6 a.m., steamed offshore for a mile, and put down the net, at 6.30 a.m., 7 miles S. x W. from Manukau South Head ; depth 13 fathoms, bottom fine sand. Towed W.N.W. for 5 miles, and hauled up in 20 fathoms at 7.50, bottom fine sand. Result, a fair haul. After hauling at station 218, steamed to Onehunga to land fish, coal, and take in stores. November 8, 9, 10, and 11. —Lying at Onehunga wharf. The long detention here was caused by the difficulty of getting coal from Auckland by rail. November 12.—Left Onehunga at 2 p.m., but on reaching Manukau Heads found the bar unworkable and the weather very bad, so anchored inside the Heads. November 13. —-Weather still bad, with heavy sea outside. Remained inside Manukau Heads all day. November li.- —Hove up anchor inside Manukau Heads at 5 a.m. Crossed the bar at 6. am. Station 219 : Steamed south 12| miles, shot the net at 8 a.m. in 30 fathoms, sand-and-shell bottom, the position being S. xW. from Manukau Heads. Towed S.E. xS. for 5 miles, and hauled up at 9.35 in 38 fathoms, bottom sand and shell. This haul yielded fairly good results. Station 220 : After hauling up at last station, altered the course and steamed east 6 miles, and shot net for next haul at 11.10 a.m., position being 17 miles S. \E. from Manukau Heads; depth 25 fathoms, sand-and-shell bottom. Towed S. E. for 2 hours, distance 6 miles. Hauled up in 20 fathoms from the same character of bottom as the net was shot in. This haul also yielded fair results, giving indications of getting on to flatfish-grounds. Station 221 : Steamed east 5 miles after hauling up, and shot the net 6 miles off the mouth of the Waikato River at 2.15 p.m.; depth 16 fathoms, with fine-sand bottom. Towed S.S.E. for 5 miles, and hauled up from the same depth and bottom that the net was shot in. The result of this haul was also satisfactory, giving a fair quantity of schnapper and also a quantity of soles, brill, and Johndory. Although some flatfish were taken in the last two hauls, yet the quantity did not come up to our expectations, considering the character of bottom and outlet from the Waikato River. Station 222 : After hauling up at station 221 steamed south for 4 miles, and shot again at 4 p.m. 11 miles S.W. xS.J S. from South Waikato Head; depth 21 fathoms, fine-sand bottom. Towed S.S.W. for an hour, 4 miles, and hauled up in 23 fathoms, fine-sand bottom. Although this haul was only a short one, the results were satisfactory. After hauling up, anchored for the night. November 15.—Station 223 : Hove up anchor at 7 a.m., and steamed E. x S. 6 miles, and put over the net for the first haul 12J miles N.W. xW.J W. from Woody Head; depth 23 fathoms, bottom fine sand. Towed E.S.E. for 5 miles, and hauled up at 9.35 a.m. in 20 fathoms, 8 miles N.W. xW.