9

H.—22

Very little collecting has been done in the last summer, the Museum expedition to Stephen Island being the only opportunity, beyond local excursions, for securing fresh specimens. The ornithological collections have for the last six months received more than the ordinary attention consequent on a general rearrangement of the exhibition cases. Fish Collections. —Numerous additions to the New Zealand fishes have been made. The most important acquisitions were received from the late Dr. Moorhouse, Bay of Islands, and Mr. W. B. Braddon, Hokitika. Thermal trout-fisheries investigation :An endeavour has been made to correlate the water constituents with the nature and condition of the higher organic life of the lakes. To this end an analysis of water-samples has been carried out. A paper entitled " The Geochemistry of the Thermal Lakes in relation to Problems bearing on the Trout," by Mr. Grigg of the Dominion Laboratory, and Mr. Phillips (Museum Staff), has been prepared. Marine Fisheries Investigation.—-Special attention has been directed to the commercial fisheries of Auckland, and much new data has been collected regarding the seasonal migrations of North Island fishes generally. The stomachs of some ninety edible fishes have been analysed. It is hoped that in this manner a more accurate knowledge of their general life-history and food-supply may be obtained. Other Collections.— From the stomachs of the various fishes small collections of Crustacea, molluscs, echinoderms, and annelids have been made. Part of this material remains yet to be worked out; but there _can be no doubt that many of the organisms found will be of utmost interest. The Pelecypoda in the show-cases have been remounted, and correctly named. As far as possible either specimens or figures of each genus are shown. Work on the Gasteropoda. &c, is, however, hung up until labels can be printed. Fish and Game. On account of the unsettled conditions generally, together with the high cost of material and cartage, it was decided that no fishing operations should be conducted this season at Taupo or Rotorua. The result of the past netting operations for the improvement of the fisheries has been clearly demonstrated this season. Fish are being taken from Lake Taupo weighing up to 15 lb., and the average weight of the fish obtained has risen to 7 lb. The small fish liberated in this lake to provide a food-supply for trout have increased in millions, and are to be found in all the shallows around the lake. A great improvement has also been made in the fish in Lake Rotorua. Here fish are taken up to 7 lb. and 8 lb. weight. But on account of the thinning operations not being carried out for a year or two there are still a large number of ill-conditioned fish that should be removed from these waters. If netting operations can be carried out, say, for another two seasons, and further consignments of small fish liberated, together with the introduction of new ova, there is no reason why the fishing cannot be brought back to the original high standard. As in the past, arrangements were made whereby visiting anglers could have their surplus trout smoked and cured at Taupo. Shags. —During the past season 762 shags' heads were received and destroyed. Trout-hatchery. —The ova-collecting season started as usual in June, but the fish were very late in running up the streams in any number. Sonic very fine fish were penned later. Many hens were taken weighing up to 11 lb. A little over two million ova were collected, which were disposed of as. follows : 981,000 were forwarded as eyed ova, and 832,500 were reared as fry. A large consignment of fry was liberated in the waters of the Tongariro National Park rivers, 500,000 were purchased by the Auckland Society, and other consignments were forwarded to Opotiki, Tauranga, and Katikati. The eyed ova were sent to Sydney, Hobart, Fiji, Napier, Motu, New Plymouth, Masterton,. Westland, Bay of Islands, and Gisborne. Alexander Turnbull Library. Cataloguing. —At the 31st March, 1922, over 17,000 volumes had boon classified, numbered, and placed on the shelves. The cards prepared for these volumes, including cards for the printed catalogue, now number considerably over 100,000. About 350 volumes were sent to the Government Printer for lettering or binding. Whilst the work of classifying and preparing cards has been confined to thePacific section, a considerable part of the English literature has been arranged according to classes, largely for the convenience of students and readers, since it is found that English literature engagesas much attention as colonial or Dominion history. Amongst other volumes dealt with during the year where the pamphlets of New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific, of which there are several thousands. Whilst much of the matter they contain is of an ephemeral nature, much is of historic value. A mass of material, articles, &c, extracted from magazine literature is also being dealt with. Additions. —During the year about 350 new books have been added to the library, including the first nineteen volumes of the Linschoten Society publications, the Dutch equivalent of the Hakluyt Society. The additions comprise new publications and old miscellaneous publications not already in the library. Donations. —The thanks of the Government are due to numerous donors, many of whom are not residents of New Zealand. Historical Records.--A number of the early despatches relating to New Zealand have now been, deposited in the library. It is hoped that the library may in time include an Office of Public Records.. Readers. —Fuller advantage is now being taken of the facilities offered. In addition to local residents, students from the South Island, New South Wales, and the United States of America have spent periods, varying in duration, in reading up New Zealand subjects and early English drama.. One student is engaged in research into the drama of the Restoration.

2—H. 22.