Oysters in large quantities have been found in The Narrows between Port Curtis and Keppel Bay, 

 and four banks have been licensed to Mr. J. G-. Pattison, of Eockhampton. 



The Moreton Bay Oyster Company have also taken up banks in Eodds Harbour, from which they 

 remove cultivation to their banks in Moreton Bay. 



The stocks of marketable oysters in the hands of licensed oystermen are so far in excess of the 

 Southern markets, that shipments in any large quantities above the present export would be injudicious, 

 and almost certain to entail loss. 



I am of opinion that the time has arrived when the system of forwarding oysters South in bags 

 should be discontinued, and fat young oysters should bo packed in small cases, to relieve the pressure on 

 their tender shells. 



The working of the Fisheries Act, which is also carried out by this Department, appears to have 

 given satisfaction. 



Advantage was taken of the powers given in the eighteenth section of the Act to close the Brisbane 

 Eiver for net fishing, from Doughboy Creek upwards ; also the Canaipa Channel, Swan Bay, Ncrang 

 Creek, and the foreshore of Sandgate from Cabbage-tree Creek to Brighton. It is the general opinion 

 that the plentiful sup; !} of fish obtainable last summer in the upper and town reaches of the Brisbane 

 Eiver was, in a great "measure, due to the fact that the river had been closed for net fishing since 

 November, 1887. 



In consequence of complaints being received that crabs were getting scarce in several of the creeka 

 and rivers of Moreton Bay, the taking of them was prohibited for twelve months, which expired on the 

 31st ultimo. The months during which crab-fishing should be prohibited is at present uncertain. 



During the month of June large sea prawns made their appearance in vast shoals in the lower 

 reaches of the river, and advice having been received that certain Chinese fishermen were catching them 

 in large quantities with long small-meshed nets on the morning of 26th of April last, I seized five boats 

 and nine long nets (valued at £100) which were being illegally used. 



A small herd of dugong are sometimes seen on the west side of Moreton Island. These are also 

 protected under the same clause. 



CECIL S. FISON, 



Inspector. 



EEPOET OF OYSTEE FISHEEIES, SANDY STEAIT. 



Harbour Master's OfEce, 



Maryborough, 31st August, 1889. 



Sib, — In accordance with your instructions, I have the honour to submit the following report, in re the 

 Oyster Fisheries of this Port. Beginning at the head of Tin Can Inlet, the extreme southern limit, theace to 

 Inskip Point. 



Sections 1 and 2. There has been a considerable quantity of new ground taken up, portions of which, 

 previous to this year, have never been known to carry an oyster. There has been a considerable amount of 

 cultivation laid down in these sections, in all cases with very good results; there has also been a very heavy faU 

 of spat, which must have taken place at different periods since the floods of 1887, for I have noticed young oysters 

 of at least four or five different ages, the oldest not more than about twelve months, all on the one bank, which I 

 think shows that there can be no regular period for oysters to spat. 



Sections 3 and 4, extending from Inskip Point to Moonboom Island, have also improved considerably, both 

 from the amount of cultivation carried on and the heavy faU of spat, which has been nearly general throughout. 

 In Section 4, the Moreton Bay Oyster Company hold seven banks, all connected with each other, and 

 extending for upwards of three miles in length. This ground is situated in the centre of Great Sandy Strait, and is 

 at present used for cultivating the Company's Moreton Bay banks ; but I am of opinion that with the amount of 

 really good suitable ground for the purpose adjoining, were these banks carefully attended to and cultivated, 

 they could be made the pick of the whole district. 



In Sections 5 and -6, extending from Moonboom Island to the Eiver Heads, also inside the River Heads and 

 Susan Eiver, the banks have all improved in a more or less degree ; several new banks have also been taken up. 



Sections 7 and 8, comprising all banks in Hervey Bay, I have not yet finished marking off, having 

 been employed in placing piles and light stands, &c., iu positions for the lighting of Great Sandy Strait, and 

 marking and beaconing new channel across Wide Bay Bar, so that I have had very little time to spare for this 

 work ; but from the appearance of those banks that 1 have marked off, and others that I have examined, I have 

 no hesitation in stating that these sections contain some very valuable banks. The different licensees also report 

 a marked improvement. 



Section 9 includes all the banks in the Burrum Eiver, the most northern limit of our district, the licensees 

 "of which also report considerable improvement. 



Licenses have been issued from July 1, 1888, to June 30, 1889, for 167 oyster banks, 37 boats, and 77 men— 

 £923 ; as against 150 banks, 40 boats, and 73 men — £836 10s. of previous year {vide schedule appended). This 

 Increase, I feel confident, would have been greater had I been able to finish marking off the banks in sections 7 and 

 8, for several of which, I have no doubt, extra licenses will be required, as the licensees, when pegging off the 

 ground before survey, invariably err on the large side, for which, of course, they cannot be blamed. 



Cultivation.— Tivixm^ the past year oyster cultivation has been carried on to a considerable extent. Messrs. 

 Leftwich and Sons having alone laid down 6,000 bags, which they report as improving very rapidly. Mr. G. H. 

 Clarke has laid down over 1,100 bags, which he also reports as coming on satisfactorily. 



The other licensees have likewise set apart portions of their property for this purpose, as they one and all 

 seem to have arrived at the same conclusion — viz., that it is no use sending poor oysters to the southern markets, 

 and that it is to their own interest to improve and cultivate their banks, so that I have very little trouble in seeing 

 that the provisions of " The Oyster Act" are observed. 



Dredge Banhs. — With reference to dredge banks, I may state that at present but one exists in this district, 

 situated at the mouth of the Susan Eiver, and held by Messrs. Leftwich and Sons, but has not been worked 

 during the past four years. 



Exportation. — Messrs. Leftwich and Sons have shipped to the different markets during the past twelve 

 months 2,763 bags of oysters ; G. H. Clarke, 1,300 bags ; and H. Nowitski, 900 hags ; the remaining licensees 

 about 3,000 bags between them — making upwards of 8,000 bags. Large quantities of oysters for cultivation 

 purposes in Moreton Bay have also been shipped. 



In 



