328 



which would accrue and which is by nO' means to be despised. 



So far I have dealt almost exclusively with sea fish, but in 

 the Murray River there is a source of supply of great value 

 which also is becoming fast depleted, and to which the same 

 general statements are applicable. In October, 1900, Messrs. 

 Stephens and Mcintosh, Inspectors of Fisheries in this State,, 

 conducted an enquiry into the fisheries of the S.A. portion 

 of the Murray, and a large amount of evidence was collected, 

 which, unfortunately, was never published. It was reserved 

 for the N.S.W. Government — to the disgrace of this State, 

 be it said — to publish, from the pen of Mr. Dannevig, an 

 able summary of thei results of that enquiry. The evidence 

 has been carefully and ably sifted and analysed by that gentle- 

 man, and his report is most interesting reading. It is clearly 

 shown, after allowing for certain evidence given by some 

 fishermen, evidently with a view to their own interests, that 

 the spawning season is from September to November, that 

 certain kinds of net, more especially the bag net, are fearfully 

 destructive in their effects (and the same is true in a less 

 degree and for different reasons of wire cages), and that birds 

 and turtles are responsible for the destruction of large quan- 

 tities of fish. It is further shown, that fish hatcheries could 

 be easily maintained and made very effective under the con- 

 ditions which prevail in the Murray, and, lastly, that even 

 in the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs considerable 

 railway revenue is derived from the carriage of the fish. At 

 a conference held in Melbourne in May, 1902, several resolu- 

 tions were adopted recommending that the following steps, 

 among others, should be taken to preserve the Murray 

 fisheries : — 



1. A close season for Murray fish and Crustacea from Sep- 

 tember 1 to December 20 of each year. 



2. Investigation by competent officials to ascertain the 

 lowest weights at which codfish, perch, and lobsters are in full 

 roe. 



3. Imposition of licence fees. 



4. Offering of rewards for the destruction of shags, pelicans, 

 and turtles. 



5. Establishment of a hatchery, the expense to be borne 

 equally by New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 



The more important of these proposals are, I believe, in- 

 cluded in the Bill now before Parliament, and a close season 

 on the Murray has been declared dming September, October, 

 and November. Such evidence of the awakening of the 

 authorities to the gravity of the situation is so far cause for 

 satisfaction. That the situation is grave scarcely admits of 



