H.—ls

which was not for very long. In the lower Waitaki, which during last year's drought produced a record catch for anglers, the conditions were impossible, and the few odd fish obtained were foul-hooked. Police Constable Berry, Inspector of Fisheries at Glenavy, reported that salmon were first seen running as early as the 29th November and entered the river early in December, but no fish were caught. The river became flooded and discoloured on the 3rd January and remained so for the whole season. Odd fish were seen rising in January and February. A good run was observed on the 28th February, and salmon continued to move every day till the 22nd March, but no very approximate idea of the numbers running could be obtained from the observation of rising fish. The only Waitaki fish caught by anglers were taken in the higher waters, in the Hakataramea, Ahuriri, Ohau, and Pukaki tributaries. A quinnat weighing 47 lb. was caught in the Ahuriri River. Good runs entered the Waiau-ua and Hurunui Rivers in North Canterbury, and there were again reports of fish entering the Opihi and Orari Rivers. The South Canterbury Acclimatization Society's annual report states that possibly two hundred were caught at the mouth of the Opihi. It is impossible to get an approximate idea of the numbers of fish taken by the numerous quinnatsalmon anglers in the Canterbury rivers. From the returns sent in by those holding licenses for the sale of rod-caught fish the following statement of catches has been summarized : —

After the season had opened it was decided to allow netting on the lower Waimakariri, and licenses for four nets were accordingly issued at the beginning of March. This fishing was restricted to the tidal waters below a point about one and a quarter miles from the mouth, and no netting was allowed from Friday midnight till Sunday midnight. The first fish was caught on the 4th March and the last on the 7th April. The following statement shows the number and weight of fish taken by the four nets :—

The annual yield of salmon-netting operations from their commencement in 1925 to the present time is shown in the following table : —

Waimakariri River.

20

Waimakariri River, 18/2/31 to 21/4/31 (three rods)— Number of fish caught Weight of fish, in pounds Average weight, in pounds Kakaia River, 21/2/31 to 30/4/31 (eleven rods)— Number of fish caught Weight of fish, in pounds Average weight, in pounds Rangitata River, 16/2/31 to 28/4/31 (fourteen rods)— Number of fish caught Weight of fish, in pounds Average weight, in pounds Combined rivers, 16/2/31 to 30/4/31 (twenty-five rods, three of which fished two of the above rivers) — Number of fish caught Weight of fish, in pounds Average weight, in pounds ... Males. 10 171 17-1 89 1,286 14-4 102 1,651 16-2 201 3,108 15-5 Females. 9 143 15-8 83 1,164 14-0 104 1,746 16-8 196 3,053 15-6 Sex not given. 38 548 14-4 11 169 15-4 49 717 14-6 Total. 19 16-5 210 2,998 14-3 217 3,566 16-4 446 6,878 15-4

Number Weight Average of fish caught ., of fish, in pounds weight of fish, in pounds Males. 193 2,319 12-0 Females. 202 2,578 12-8 Sex not Distinguished. 337 4,530 13-4 Total. 732 9,427 12-9

1925 . 1926 . 1927 . 1928 . 1929 . 1930 . 1931 . Year. . . . Number of Nets licensed. 5 8 4 4* 4 * This includes one net Number of Fish caught. 184 1,126 767 2,514 732 operated by the Marine Total Weight of Fish caught. lb. 1,917 13,121 8,553 28,006 9,427 Department. Average Weight of Fish. lb. 10-41 11-7 11-2 11-1 12-9