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became insufficiently numerous to be hunted with profit; but there would then remain a considerable number of whales to propagate their species. The enormous cost of a whaling expedition such as visits the Ross Sea and the loss involved in a poor season is a very healthy check to overfishing. The licensees now have a permanent depot on shore at Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, at which their whale-catchers are overhauled and kept during the winter season, a number of their men being left there annually for that purpose. It is expected the licensees will continue their whaling operations at Ross Dependency during the coming season, and that they will, as during the last season, operate with two floating factories and ten whale-catchers. The factories should arrive in New Zealand in sufficient time to enable them with their whale-catchers to depart for Stewart Island early in November. A great deal has been said and written in recent years about the extermination of whales and the necessity for regulating catching operations, if not wholly stopping them, for a period, or in certain waters. The fact is that whaling in international waters can be regulated or prevented only by international agreement, and individual Governments have no jurisdiction except in territorial waters. Furthermore, no thorough investigation of the life history of the Southern Ocean whale, his migrations and his food - supplies, has ever been made, and therefore there is no data on which to argue the case for control. Possibly the investigations of the "Discovery" expedition, which is reported to have returned to Falmouth from the Southern Ocean, may provide the necessary data and so make useful discussion possible. The greater part of the world's whaling operations is in the hands of one country or of its nationals, and it would appear unlikely that that country would enter into any international agreement to place restrictions upon itself or its nationals. Fisheries. It is with regret that I record the death of Mr. L. F. Ayson, who served this Department in the capacity of Chief Inspector of Fisheries for twenty-seven years, and retired from the Service in July last. I desire to place on record the Department's high appreciation of his services in pioneering the activities of the Fisheries Branch over a very difficult period. The country's gratitude is due to him for the acclimatization of the Quinnat and the Atlantic salmon, and for the cultivation of the rockoyster, which are the results of his untiring devotion to duty. Mr. A. E. Hefford succeeded the late Mr. Ayson as Chief Inspector of Fisheries. Mr. Hefford's report on his work as Fisheries Expert for the year is appended, together with the report of the Chairman of the Board (Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C.) on the Portobello Marine Fisheries Investigation Station. Conclusion. In conclusion, I desire to express my appreciation of the manner in which members of the staff have performed their official duties. Their co-operation has made it possible to successfully carry out the varied activities of the Department, and has been the means of maintaining the efficient conduct of business. G. C. Godfrey, Secretary.

FISHERIES. Sir, — 26th July, 1927. I have the honour to submit the following report upon my work as Fisheries Expert to the Marine Department for the year 1926-27. My attention during the year has been given to matters of departmental routine, to the gathering of general information as material for a report on the condition of the fisheries as a whole, and to certain special subjects to which further reference is made below. The following places were visited : Russell and the Bay of Islands ; Whangarei; Auckland ; Thames and the Hauraki Gulf; Muriwai Beach ; Tauranga and Whakatane ; Foxton and the Manawatu River ; Picton ; Blenheim and the River Wairau ; Kaikoura ; Christchurch ; Lyttelton and the River Waimakariri; Temuka and the River Opihi; Greymouth ; Hokitika and rivers in north Westland ; Hakataramea Hatchery and the Rivers Waitaki and Arahura ; Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Portobello Fishery Investigation Station; Kaitangata. and Clutha River; Invercargill, Bluff, and Stewart Island ; Te Anau Hatchery, and Rivers Upukororo and Eglinton ; Lak« Manapouri and Home Creek ; Tuatapere and the lower course of the River Waiau. Fishery Statistics. Our records in the past have given only annual totals of quantity of fish landed and the approximate value of the same without reference to separate kinds of fish or the time employed and the number or kind of vessels actually engaged in the fishing. Such records can throw little or no light upon the condition of the fisheries or the progress of the industry. With regard to the Hauraki Gulf fisheries, this year a commencement has been made to obtain more complete and informative returns. The skippers of all classes of fishing-vessels at Auckland and Thames have been provided with log-books in which to enter particulars as to the kinds and quantities of fish caught each voyage. The data so obtained will provide material for fishery statistics of real value and significance, and the method should be extended to other fishing-ports, with suitable modifications where necessary, as soon as the required organization can be made with regard to staff for the collection and collation of the statistics.

3—H. 1 r>.

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