46 
Commercial trawling has been prosecuted in New Zealand waters 
for a number of years, the principal centres being Napier, Lyttelton, 
and Dunedin. 
With the object of assisting and furthering the fishing imdustry. 
the New Zealand Government has on three occasions organized 
and carried out an extensive series of experimental trawling investi- 
gations, the objects, as detailed in the official reports, being “ to 
ascertain what extent of trawling-grounds existed, what varieties 
of marketable fish were obtainable in the different localities; to 
prove whether the conditions necessary for carrying on successful 
trawling existed in certain localities within workable distance of the 
best markets, and, if so, to place the information on record for the 
guidance of those interested in the trawling industry ; and generally 
to acquire information on the distribution of food-fishes, &c., m the 
sea surrounding these islands.” 
The first expedition was undertaken in the “ Doto,” a small steam- 
trawler of 28 tons, and extended from the 10th March to the 7th June, 
1900. One hundred and fifty-four hauls of the net were made, at 
depths ranging from 23 to 50 fathoms. The operations extended 
from Stewart Island and Foveaux Strait in the south, up the east 
coast of the South Island to Cook Strait. Hauls were also made 
in Tasman Bay and South Taranaki Bight. 
As this left the waters of the North island scarcely touched, a 
second expedition was undertaken in the following year. This was, 
however, really a continuation of the previous essay, and was con- 
fined to the coastal waters of the North Island. The “ Doto” was 
again chartered, and operated from the 9th February to the 2nd May, 
1901, from which latter date, until the 20th May, the trawler “ Rita ” 
replaced the “ Doto.” During this cruise 122 hauls were made, 
between the extremes of 3 and 38 fathoms. 
For purposes of the present review the two expeditions may be 
taken together, and, in case of necessary reference to the respective 
reports, the dates 1900 and 1901 will sufficiently indicate them. 
These reports were written by Mr. L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector 
of Fisheries for New Zealand, who was in charge of the investigations, 
and superintended the operations throughout. 
The Government recognised, on the representation of Mr. Ayson, 
the desirability of having on board some one acquainted with the 
fishes from a more technical standpoimt than that of the commercial 
fisherman—some one who could specifically identify the catches, 
instead of merely enumerating them as “ sharks,” “ flounders,” &e. 
It was not found possible to obtain the services of a recognised 
ichthyologist for the whole period of the cruise, but at different times 
Professor W. B. Benham and Messrs. A. Hamilton and G. M. Thom- 
son accompanied the vessel, and supplied preliminary notices, which 
are printed as appendices to the official reports. 
