H.—44a.

Recommendations. 1. That the grant to the biological station at Portobello be discontinued, provision to be made for the employment of the present caretaker in some other sphere. 2. That the Government support the proposal to establish an aquarium and marine biological station at Wellington, and provide the initial finance, subject to the direction of the station being under Government control. CANNING. Otago. In season, Messrs. Irvine and Stevenson's St. George Co. can oysters at Dunedin and crayfish at Dunedin and Akaroa. In regard to oysters, representations were made that the cost of railage from the Bluff was relatively high, and reference has been made to this aspect of the position under " Transport and Internal Distribution." There were 1,465 sacks of oysters canned (mostly for export) in 1936, compared with 13,375 by the Stewart Island Canneries, Ltcl. In 1936, 9,271 \ lb. tins of crayfish were packed in Dunedin, and 1,578 in Akaroa. The bulk of this product is also exported, and certain quantities were admitted into France after the New Zealand Government had arranged to receive part of the. United Kingdom's quota for canned crayfish into that country. This quota is based upon a quantity allocation, and following upon the company's representations that the quota should be cumulative to the end of the year this matter will be taken up with the Department of Industries and Commerce. No crayfish tails are now packed. This Dunedin company also cans whitebait at Hokitika, Westport, Auckland, and Waikato, and the principal market for the product is Australia. Sample quantities of barracouta were packed successfully some time ago, but there was no local demand, and the cost landed in London was found to be non-competitive with salmon. Totara North. The Committee inspected the premises and plant of the now defunct Zealandia Packing Co., and while we were quite impressed with the potential efficiency of this modern plant, which is kept in good order and condition, we have no recommendations to make in regard to it. TOHEROAS (CANNING). The Committee visited the factory of Northland Canneries, Ltd., at Awanui just before production commenced for the season (end July). This firm is now principally concerned with the production of pulp for export in gallon cans, but by arrangement certain quantities are canned as soup by Messrs. Thompson and Hills, Ltd. The only other concern holding a lease from the Marine Department of toheroa-beds is Messrs. Meredith Bros., of Tikinui, near Dargaville, who are canning only the whole toheroa at the present time, but who contemplate extending their activities into the canning of soup also. MULLET (CANNING.) The evidence tendered to the Committee was in the main favourable to the establishment of a mullet-cannery in the Kaipara. The stocks are said to be plentiful enough to warrant such a venture, and in this case the establishment of such a plant would give the men an additional form of fishing. At present the market for fresh mullet is weak, and few of the men bother to fish for them. The history of mullet-canning not only in the Kaipara, but in other northern districts, has been somewhat chequered. We feel that the position here should be investigated by a firm competent to do so, such as Hansen Bros., who for many years have canned mullet at Purerua, Bay of Islands, before any definite action is taken. If in the light of their experience with their own cannery, now practically closed for want of supplies, Kaipara shows possibilities, then the erection of a small plant should be assisted. Recommendation. 1. That the Government approach Messrs. Hansen Bros., of Purerua, with a proposal to investigate the possibility of the successful operation of a mullet-cannery in Kaipara. In the event of their report being favourable, assistance should be given in the establishment of such a factory. QUINNAT SALMON. The netting of quinnat salmon in the Waimakariri River by commercial fishermen was discussed at Kaiapoi. The principal complaints concerned the date of the issue of the licenses each year, the men contending that there was undue delay in some years, and the necessity for extending the areas available for netting owing to the fact that a considerable portion of the original fishinggrounds had been destroyed by flood. These were matters of departmental administration, and we have been informed that the necessary action has been taken to meet the fishermen's wishes in these matters. FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION. It is difficult to report on the administration of the Dominion fisheries at this stage, as the Department's activities have been expanded during the last year, and it is not yet possible to gauge the full effect of this expansion. Certain definite defects, however, were brought to our notice during the investigation. These did not take the form of complaints about the inactivity of the Marine Department—or, rather, the Fisheries Branch of the Department —but were rather complaints about the inadequacy of the administration, due to lack of staff, equipment, and finance, all matters which, we are well aware, can only be remedied when the necessary finance is available.

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