H.— 22.

B. General. (1) Fry and Ova. Stripping operations were carried out in the Hatchery Creek, Tongariro River, and at Lakes Tarawera and Okataina. Particularly at Lake Tarawera, rainbow of excellent quality were stripped, specimens up to 16|- lb. being handled, and the average weight was in the vicinity of 81b. One very noticeable feature at all stripping places was the wonderful condition of young fish. The main runs were in July and August. The fry from ova taken from Lake Okataina were planted m Lake Tarawera, and a consignment of Lake Tarawera ova was forwarded to the Tongariro River. From the Tongariro Hatchery Creek 5,897,500 ova were stripped; from Lake Tarawera 3,712,500; and from Lake Okataina 65,000. Ova amounting to 1,857,500 were sold to various acclimatization societies, 500,000 exchanged with the North Canterbury Acclimatization Society, 500,000 sold to the State Fisheries, Sydney, while 100,000 fry were sold to the Tauranga Acclimatization Society and 52,000 to the Department of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity. The _ following are the particulars of liberations of fry in the various waters of the Rotorua Acclimatization District Rotorua District. -Rotorua, 1,047,000 ; Rotoiti, 916,000 ; Okataina, 327,000 ; Tarawera, 324,000; Rerewhakaitu, 80,000; Okaro, 64,000; Rotokakahi, 266,000; Rotoehu, 157,000 : Rotoma, 178,000 ; Waikato River, 265,000 ; Waipunga, 57,000 ; Taahunaatara, 100,000.' Wairoa Area. —Waikaremoana, Waikareiti, and local streams, 510,000; Ruakituri, 290,000. Taupo District. —Tongariro, 237,000 ; Waitahanui, 84,000 ; Waikato, 274,000; Tauranga-Taupo, 66,000; Hatepe, 43,000; Waimarino, 36,000; Waiotaka, 53,000; Western Bays, 412,000 Bay of Plenty Rivers. —Ruatahuna, 50,000 ; Pakahi, 48,000 ; Wai-iti, 18,000 ; Waioeka, 406,000; Waimana, 189,000; Whakatane, 334,000; Tarawera, 50,000; Whirinaki, 90,000 ; l'utauaki (Lake), 11,000. (2) Inspections of Waters and Culling of Fish. The general good condition of trout did not call for any special effort in respect to culling. At the Tongariro River Hatchery 134 males and 153 females were destroyed. During the winter and early spring inspections were made of the various waters. In addition to large numbers of: spawning fish observed, fmgerlings and fry were very numerous. (3) Tagging of Trout. During the stripping operations at the Tongariro River, 282 trout were tagged. The following table gives details of fish tagged and either rehandled at the hatchery stream or caught and reported by anglers:—

(4) Facilities for Anglers. The new road to Rangatira Point has proved popular with anglers. A new road from the Turangi-Tokaanu Road to the Log crossing, Tongariro River, has been formed. In the vicinity of Taupo various tracks and fishing stands were cleared. The Information Bureau, Taupo, has been kept open for a short time each day for the convenience of anglers. (5) Food-supplies for Trout. Further consignments of smelts were taken to Taupo. The stocking of Lake Taupo with smelts has been most successful. During the year 70,000 smelts and 11,545 koura were planted in Taupo waters. In addition, '24,000 smelts and 3,000 toitoi in Lake Rotoma and 17,000 smelts in Lake Ngahewa were planted. (6) Black Shays, Hawks, &c. Bonuses on 895 black shags, 875 hawks, 156 stoats, and 23 ferrets and polecats were paid, and, except in the case of black-shag bonuses, recovery will be made from the North Island Vermin Control Account. In addition, the Department's own officers accounted for 363 black shags, 91 hawks, and 4 stoats, ferrets, and polecats. A bonus is also now being paid on snouts of hedgehogs.

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Tagged. J Returned. Tag No. Weight. Length, i Date. j Weight. I Length. ! Locality. ! Date. J J J I I J I lb. oz. In. lb. on. In. 2381? .. .. 2 0 19-| 25/8/38 4 3 20 Poplar Pool . . 28121-' .. .. 3 8 214 6/7/38 4 4 22J Hatchery .. 25/7/39 28181 . . .. 3 12 22 6/7/38 4 10 22§ Hatchery .. 23/7/39 2889r .. .. 3 10 21 6/7/38 5 4 23 Hatchery .. 12/6/39 28 953? .. .. 3 7 20J 6/7/38 4 10 21J Hatchery .. 30/6/39 2914].' .. 3 3 21 26/7/38 4 8 22 Hatchery .. 12/6/39 3208f .. .. 4 13 24J 12/10/38 7 4 25 Hatchery .. 21/8/39 3209? . . .. 3 3 20 12/10/38 5 2 21 Hatchery .. 5/10/39 34541' . . .. 2 2 17i 21/9/39 2 0 17 Tongariro .. 19/12/39 3460.1? .. .. 3 14 22 21/9/39 3 8 22£ Stamp Bay .. 5/11/39 770m .. .. 3 14 21 13/7/39 3 4 22-| Motuopa Bay.. 6/11/39 752j .. .. 5 2 25 13/7/39 5 5 25 Tauranga-Taupo 6/7/40