H—ls

Lack of trained staff at Head Office has precluded the working-up and assemblage of the meticulous reports submitted by Captain Watson, but it is hoped that at some future date this valuable information will be compiled and published in a form which will be of interest and value to all concerned. Toheroas The state of the main toheroa beaches, Ninety-mile, North Kaipara, Muriwai, and Waitarere, is much the same as detailed in the last annual report. The stocks on the Ninety-mile Beach are still a matter of concern to this Department. The North Kaipara, Muriwai, and Waitarere Beaches are in good order. Mussels The catch of mussels in the Thames-Coromandel-Auckland area fell from 15,390 sacks in 1944 to 13,156 sacks in 1945. The decline is accounted for in the main to the closure of certain grounds at Coromandel which were showing the effect of too intensive exploitation. Paua The one fisherman licensed specifically for this fishery took 30,209 pauas in the year 1945 and the flesh or " steaks " of 23,580 of them was sold as food. This was a very useful effort, the reward of continued hard work, enthusiasm, and close study of the habits of the paua by the man concerned. Whitebait The table given below summarizes the information obtained from the principal whitebait-fishing centres for the 1945 season.

Whitebait Fishery, 1945 Season

38

Number of Total Quantity caught Inspector's Centre. Rivers fished. Method of Pishing. Fishing began. Best Month. 'Fishermen (Approximately). Whole Time. Part Time. (Approximately). Cwt. Auckland Waikato Hand-nets July .. Sept. 200 250 2,238 Auckland Kaituna Set-nets .. July .. Aug.-Sept. Sept. 20 30 31 Auckland Rangitaiki, Tarawera Hand-nets July .. 22 33 New Plymouth Waitara, Awakino, Mokau, WaioHand and July .. Sept. iso 63 ngona, Mimi, Waiwalcaiho, Urenui, Henui set nets Wanganui Turakina, Kai Iwi, Wangaehu, Wanganui Hand-nets July .. Sept. 15 6 Napier Tukituku, Ngaruroro Hand and set nets July .. Aug. 100 Blenheim Wairau, Omaka, Opawa, Tau-Hand-nets Aug. .. Sept. 4 59 marina Christ church Waimakariri, Ashley, Saltwater, Rakaia, Opihi, Rangitata, Hand and Aug. .. Oct. 62 230 384 set nets Avon, Hurunui, Waiau, Orari, Waipara, Halswell, Styx Dunedin Molyneux, Taieri, Puerua, Owaka, Hand-nets Sept... Oct. 10 20 185 Waikawa, Shag, Waikouaiti, Kakanui, Pleasant, Wainakarua, Tokomairiro, Waitaki Dunediri Mataura, Oreti, Titiroa, Waihopai, Waimatuku, Otakau, Aparema, Waiau Hand and set nets Aug. .. Oct. 30 40 175 Wataroa Big Wanganui, Paringa, Jacobs, Mahitahi, Waitoto, Haast, Set-nets .. Sept... Oct. 100 25 2,432 Little Wanganui, Karangarua, Wataroa, Waitangi, Maori, Moeraki Hokitika Hokitika, Mahinapua Creek, tidal creeks at Three-mile, Arahura, Awatuna, Fishermen's Creek Hand and set nets Sept... Nov. 49 231 1,203 Greymouth .. Teremakau, Grey Hand-nets Aug. .. Oct .-Nov. 2 200 268 Westport Buller, Orawaiti, Nile, Totara, Hand-nets Aug. .. Oct. 50 100 1,196 Little Wanganui, Mokihinui, Karamea Takaka Takaka Hand-nets July .. Aug. 2 3 57 Motueka Motueka, Moutere Hand and Aug. .. Oct.-Nov. 16 20 268 set nets 8,698