H.—44a.

tuna family are limited only by suitability of the open waters in which they cruise as true ocean migrants. It has been shown by researches made in the Northern Hemisphere that the occurrence of the various species is correlated with water temperatures, which probably react directly upon the fish themselves and also indirectly upon them by conditioning the presence of food and their reproductive processes. However, as to these factors in New Zealand seas, next to nothing is definitely known. With regard to practical fishing possibilities, it may be remarked that the tuna-fishing industry by modern methods in the North Pacific is a comparatively new development, but it has already resulted in a marked depletion of the nearer fishing areas and only ocean-going vessels capable of cruising over a very long range are being built for the Californian tuna industry at the present time. I may venture to record my own doubts as to the occurrence of this class of fish in this part of the Pacific in anything like the abundance that is shown ofi the Pacific Coast of North America, because there is no evidence of anything like the same wide distribution and vast abundance of the smaller pelagic fish, such as sardines and mackerel, upon which they feed. Because our pelagic-fish resources may be comparatively small, however, there is no reason to assume that no use can be made of them. The nearness to the coast of the most ' fishy ' waters should be an advantage in reducing the cost of the fishing operations that may become a practical proposition when more exploratory work has been done and more experience gained in this line of fishing." Recommendation. 1. The Committee considers that the development of this phase of fishing operations can quite well be left to private enterprise. MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AND PUBLIC AQUARIA. Portobello. The marine biological station at Portobello was inspected by the Committee while in Dunedin, and evidence was tendered by the Secretary of the Board which conducts the activities of the station. This station, established in 1904, has had a very chequered career, mainly due to lack of sufficient financial resources, but also because of its situation and the difficulties of providing adequate direction of the work. For the last few years it has been merely existing on a small Government grant and functioning only as a public aquarium. The question of its closure has been brought up from time to time, but no final decision had been reached by the time this Committee commenced its investigations. An alternative to closure was proposed, it being suggested that the Government offer the station to the Otago University Council as a gift. It was hoped that, were the control of the station taken over by such an authority, it could be managed more effectively as an educational instrument. Unfortunately, the University Council could not see its way clear to accept the offer, but offered instead to make an annual grant of £50 towards the maintenance of the station. This Committee is of the opinion that, as the Otago University Council has had to decline the offer of the station as a gift, there is no alternative but to close the station. It is admitted that this is a retrograde step for the country to take, but we are unable to agree to the continual frittering away of public money on the maintenance of a station which apparently cannot be made of real use as a scientific institution. The station's main purpose has been to fulfil the functions of a public aquarium and to some extent to provide facilities for the University students. To raise it to the status of an efficient biological station would mean the expenditure of a considerable sum in (a) repairing and bringing the station and equipment up to date ; (b) annual grants for maintenance and salaries ; (c) the annual cost of direction from Wellington. We do not think that this expenditure would be justified. The Otago people most concerned, with presumably their own financial difficulties in mind, apparently value the usefulness of the station to them at £50 per annum. Under these circumstances we do not think that a Government grant of £300 per annum is justified. The station should therefore be denied any further Government aid. One final point we desire to make is that, in the event of the Portobello station being closed, a determined effort must be made to secure suitable employment for Mr. W. Adams, the caretaker at the station. This man has served the Board, and indirectly the Government, faithfully and well over a long period of years, and we feel that an injustice will be done if he is turned adrift at this period of his life without either a job or a pension of some sort. He is a capable, honest, and hard-working caretaker, and as he is a carpenter he is most useful in the maintenance of buildings. Wellington. There is a proposal to establish an aquarium at Wellington at the time of the Centennial Exhibition. This aquarium is to be designed so that it might later afford accommodation for a laboratory at which research work could be undertaken. Though we cannot agree to the plan in all its details as put forward by the promoter, we do, however, agree with the principle expressed. We strongly recommend that support be given to the erection and maintenance of an aquarium and biological station at Wellington, where the work could have the personal direction of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, who is the only person in New Zealand properly qualified to and capable of directing such a station in a manner which will ensure the maximum results for the expenditure. If such an aquarium were in operation in time to function during the period of the Centennial Exhibition, though not necessarily on the same site, we are of the opinion that the takings over that period may help to offset the capital cost. Of the sites proposed, we favour either of the two sites at Island Bay as being (a) handy to tram services ; (b) on a rocky foreshore so that short pipe-lines would suffice ; (c) handy to the moorings of a large proportion of the Wellington fishing-fleet.

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