7

H.—ls

During the year the Department obtained eighty sacks of Foveaux Strait oysters and planted them in Cook Strait in a place believed to be suitable for them to live and propagate. Arrangements were made last year for the collection of a large quantity of quinnat salmon ova, in order that the stocking of Hokitika, Clutha, and Wairau Rivers might be continued, but unfortunately the number of fish that came up the rivers was so small that only 77,000 ova were obtained. The fry hatched from these were liberated in the Hakataramca River. This year again very few fish are coming up the rivers. This, however, is not an indication that they will not come back in large numbers in the future, as it has been found that after lean years in America the salmon come batik in immense numbers. In connection with trawling in the Hauraki Gulf, where there are several trawlers at work, the Department has frequently been urged to reduce the area within which trawling is prohibited, but the line fishermen have always strongly opposed any reduction on the ground that it would interfere with their fishing and with the breeding-grounds of the fish, in order that this matter, and also the question as to whether the price charged for fish to the public in Auckland is reasonable ; as to whether any limit has boon imposed on fishermen in regard to their catches ; as to whether it is possible to avoid taking fish befow the prescribed size, and, if not, whether the size of mesh of nets should bo increased, might be determined, the Governor-General in Council, in exercise of the power given by the Cost of Living Act, 1915, authorized the Board of Trade to inquire into and report on the questions referred to, and at the same time empowered it to delegate its functions in the matter to Messrs. E. C. Cutten, Stipendiary Magistrate, J. H. Bradney, and T. Long. Full inquiry was made, a good deal of evidence being taken, and a, report, containing valuable recommendations, has been received. The report is now under consideration, and a copy will be presented to Parliament. A report by Mr. L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, and a return of registered fishing-boats licensed at the various ports during the year ended the 31st December, 1918, are appended. The following' proceedings have been taken for breaches of the Fisheries Act : Messrs. P. Doolan and Joseph Wren, for illegally taking oysters, each fined 10s'. and costs ; Messrs. 1). Livingston and J. W. Noble, Mrs. W. Dumper and Miss 0. Carlyon, for illegally taking oysters, each fined £1 and costs ; Messrs. C. Fosberg, J. Thompson, 0. Fleming, and Miss M. Brighouse, for illegally taking oysters, each fined £1 10s. and costs ; R. Donaldson and Miss A. Fuller, for illegally taking oysters, each fined £3 and costs ; S. Reeve, for illegally taking whitebait, fined £3 and costs ; A. Russo, for trawling in prohibited area, fined £1 and costs; D. Cincotta, for similar offence, similarly fined; R. Todd, for having undersized flounders in his possession, fined £1 and costs ; and James Dobeck and David Dobeck, for similar offence, each fined £1 and costs. Meteorological and Weather Office. Owing to the war the Department has not been able to do much in the way of extending the work of the Meteorological and Weather Office during the last few years, but now the war is over there are various questions in regard to extension that should be considered. One of the most important is as to whether the office should undertake the duty of issuing flood warnings in the case of the rivers of the Dominion. The French Government has arranged for a Meteorological Conference which is to be opened in Paris on the 30th September next, and has invited countries which have organized meteorological services to send representatives. It has been decided that Mr. Bates, the Government Meteorologist, is to represent New Zealand, but before going to Paris he will go to London to attend a preliminary conference of British representatives which the Imperial Government desires should be held on the 23rd September. The following is the report of Mr. Bates on the work of his office during the, past year : — " The work of the Weather Bureau, which concerns the reporting and forecasting of the daily weather, and that of the Meteorological Office, relating to climate— particularly rainfall, temperature, &c—has passed through a trying period during the past year. Some of our observers have been absent at the front, and some will not return ; while others, through shortage of labour in the country, have had difficulty in keeping their records without breaking their continuity. Nearly all our observers perform, their services quite voluntarily, and the country really owes them a debt of gratitude for complete records, which have proved on occasions of inestimable value; In the future, when science has harnessed our water-power, and when aerial navigation is organized for defence and transport, commerce and pleasure, their value will bo greatly enhanced. I desire to recommend that a small honorarium be paid to those to whom it may be acceptable, as a small recognition of work done. " The Telegraph service, upon which we have so largely to depend, has never failed us, although during the war period it has passed through some strenuous times on account of shortage of staff and extra duties imposed upon it. " On my annual leave I made a private visit to Australia, and took the opportunity of seeing what work was done in aviation and upper-air investigation. I reported to the Defence Department upon the subject. I was, however, unfortunately detained for two months on account of shipping trouble which arose out of the influenza epidemic in New Zealand. During this time my assistant, Mr. B. V. Pemborton, and Mr. W. Goudie, who fortunately escaped the disease, carried on the work in the most praiseworthy manner under great difficulties. " While inspecting the southern stations, after an absence of some years, I visited Gore and reported to you upon the Mataura River floods. I also witnessed a flood there, and a snowstorm in Canterbury on ray return journey. " Inspection of stations, which has unfortunately been curtailed during the war, was seen to be even more necessary than usual. Many new instruments, recently unobtainable, are now required, and I hope to obtain these from stocks used in the war but now released and offered to us at reduced prices. Amongst these instruments will be an anemometer to record the force and direction of every