H.—ls.

The increased exportation of frozen and smoked fish was probably stimulated by the diminished supplies of trawl-fish to Sydney markets from the fishing-grounds ofl New South Wales and must also have been assisted to an appreciable extent by a lowered demand in New Zealand markets arising out of. the restricted purchasing-power of consumers in the Dominion. With regard to tinned fish and shell-fish, the marked decline under the head " Other kinds " from the amount shown for the preceding year is due mainly to a drop in the export of tinned crayfish. Exports of whitebait and toheroa have increased. Rock-oysters. Picking commenced on 21st May, the depot being opened on the 31st May, and the last sales for the season were made on 31st August. With some few exceptions in the early part of the season where oysters from an area of sub-normal temperatures had not reached the good condition shown later, the quality was very satisfactory. The total quantity picked showed an increase of 550 sacks compared with the previous year and was the highest since 1929. The numbers of sacks marketed from each area were as follows : Bay of Islands, 1,609; Whangarei Harbour, 195 ; Kaipara Harbour, 970 ; Hauraki Gulf, 1,729 (Takatu to Gull Point, 250 ; South Shore, Tamaki Strait, 75 ; Kawau and nearby islands, 158 ; Rangitoto, 142 ; Motutapu 110 ; Browns Island, 62 ; Motuihi, 43 ; Waiheke, 539 ; Ponui, 311 ; Pakihi, 28 ; Crusoe Island, 11) ; Coromandel, 350 ; Great Barrier Island, 414 : total, 5,267 sacks ; value, £6,060. The weather during the picking season was frequently wet and stormy with occasional frosts, the latter being a most unusual occurrence. Oyster-cultivation. In consequence of the policy of financial economies the appropriation for this work was again a comparatively small sum. The kind and quantity of work done in the various areas, and the cost of the same, is given in the statement below. This includes a considerable amount of rock-cleaning and destruction of pests, with some other work, that was done by Inspectors in the course of their ordinary patrols. Area, Work done, and Cost:— I. Bay of Islands: 800 square yards of capstones turned and walls opened up ; 5,990 square yards of rock cleared of weeds ; 10,000 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell ; and 383,000 borers destroyed. Cost, £49 15s. 11. Whangarei Harbour : 895 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 516 pupu and 103,900 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. In addition the following work was done on the Native reserve as expenditure of royalty for oysters (30 sacks) picked from the reserve during the season : 300 square yards of oyster rock shifted to the middle zone, 350 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 120 pupu destroyed, and 33,000 borers destroyed. Cost, £4 10s. sd. 111. Kaipara : 2,950 square yards of clean stone laid down (201 cubic yards of material) and 61,300 borers destroyed. Cost, £55 ss. (including £6 lis. lid. compensation for accident). IV. Takatu to Gull Point: 10 square yards of capstones turned, 12 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 211 pupu and 201,000 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. VI. Coromandel: Overcrowded beds at Waiaro thinned out and 126 square yards of driftbeds formed with material removed, 90 square yards of rock cleared of weed, 920 pupu and 141,100 borers destroyed. Cost, £14 19s. Bd. VII. Kawau : 100 concrete slabs laid in 13 " nests " for catching spat. 73 pupu and 17,700 borers destroyed. Cost (slab material), £9 17s. 9d. VIII. Rakino : 1,000 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. X. Motutapu : 25 pupu and 3,500 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. XII. Motuihi : 3 yards of stone turned, 3,500 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. XIII. Waiheke : 1,195 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 104 square yards of rock cleared of weed, 777 pupu and 237,950 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. XIV. Ponui: 3 yards of stone turned, 593 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell, 816 square yards of rock cleared of weeds, 45 square yards of new rock face exposed by blasting, 25 pupu and 91,000 borers destroyed. Cost, nil. XVI. Great Barrier : 45 square yards of clean rock laid down, 272 square yards of capstones laid out, 1,143 square yards of rock cleared of weed. Cost, £10 6s. Bd. All areas : 2,995 square yards of clean rock laid down ; 300 yards of oyster-bearing rock shifted to better position ; 1,088 square yards of capstones and oyster-bearing stones turned, relaid, or laid out from walls ; 8,143 square yards of rock cleared of weed ; 13,153 square yards of rock cleared of dead shell; 45 square yards of clean rock face exposed by blasting ; 126 square yards of drift beds formed ; 100 slabs laid in 13 " nests " for spat-fixation ; 2,667 pupus and 1,277,950 borers destroyed. Cost of labour, material, tools, and compensation, £143 19s. Id. The number of sacks of oysters picked in the 1934 season was 550 more than the total for the previous year. The demand for oysters in Auckland appears to be appreciably in excess of supplies, but there seems to be little ground for expecting that an average of more than 5,000 sacks a year can be made available from existing beds without bringing the breeding-stock too low for the safeguarding of future supplies. It is advisable that every effort, should be made to extend the cultivation work, which has been reduced to a minimum during the recent years of straitened finances.

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