Thomson. — Portobello Marine Fish- hatchery. 533 



local committee were occupied for a considerable time with 

 an experimental trawling cruise in the small chartered steam- 

 trawler " Doto." The coast round Stewart Island, along the 

 east coast of both Islands as far north as Hauraki Gulf, and 

 through Cook Strait to Nelson, was more or less examined. 

 On this cruise three members of the committee gave scientific 

 assistance — viz., Messrs. Hamilton, Thomson, and Professor 

 Benham. But correspondence was carried on between the 

 author and the Marine Department, the latter being very slow 

 to make any forward move. 



In reply to a question asked in the House of Representatives 

 on the 17th August by Mr. J. A. Millar, the Minister of Marine 

 stated that the £500 voted by the Government was available 

 for the building if the Otago Institute and the Acclimatisa- 

 tion Society liked to go on with the work. Mr. Millar pointed 

 out that this could not be done, as these bodies would be saddled 

 with the cost of maintenance, which he contended would be un- 

 just, seeing that the work was a national one. The Minister 

 added that the Government proposed now to place £500 on the 

 estimates for the building, with the addition of £250 a year 

 for five years for the maintenance of the hatchery. 



Meanwhile negotiations were commenced to secure the land 

 required at Quarry Point, this being part of a reserve granted 

 for a term of years to a Library Trust, and leased to Mr. A. 

 Porterfield. 



Difficulties also arose as to the purity of the water at the 

 site selected, but these were set at rest by analyses made by 

 Mr. W. Montgomery, which showed that it was practically 

 as pure as ocean water. 



The Minister also objected to the control passing from the 

 hands of the Government to a nominated Board, seeing that 

 the maintenance of the station was to be provided by the Go- 

 vernment. This matter of control still formed the subject of 

 discussion, and led to continued delay right on through 1901. 

 Meanwhile the Government asked for, and received on the 15th 

 June, plans and sketches of the buildings, &c, suggested as 

 necessary. These plans were, of course, only approximations, 

 as their shape and position would necessarily depend on the 

 ground available, some of which had to be cut down and filled 

 in. 



In the beginning of September Mr. Ayson came down to 

 Dunedin, and in company with Professor Benham and the 

 author (representing the Institute), and Messrs. A. Stronach 

 and D. Russell (representing the Acclimatisation Society), the 

 location of the various buildings required at the Portobello 

 site was agreed upon. 



