Our Fish Supply. 985 
storms. Fish, with the exception of small Flounders and Mullet, were 
generally scarce. 
September had very stormy weather at the beginning, which moderated 
gradually towards the end. The supply of fish sympathised with the weather, 
being very scarce at commencement, and improved towards the close. 
October.—The weather was fine at the beginning, but stormy and 
irregular towards the close. There was a good supply of fish about the 
middle of the month. Butterfish were pretty numerous. On the 25th, 
very large hauls of Garfish were made in the Lower Harbour, and this fish 
was very abundant for some days. On the 29th, a solitary Barracoota was 
caught in a net in the harbour, and next day the fishermen were out for 
miles off the coast, looking for the expected shoal, but were unsuccessful. 
On the 81st, they were met with in abundance. A new curing work was 
started this month in Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, to employ about 
20 men, two large cutters, and several smaller boats. : 
November was a month of full and pretty varied supply, the weather 
mostly fine, with some dull and showery days. 
There was some stormy weather during December, but the supply of 
fish was pretty liberal. A well-boat started to work the reefs off the coast 
between Waikouaiti and Moeraki, the intention being to bring the fish alive 
up to the town jetty. 
Fish were in full supply during January, save during one or two days 
of rough weather, which kept the boats from getting out. On the 24th, a 
fine Snapper was caught, rather larger than the ordinary run of these 
visitors to our coast. It was 131bs. in weight, 29 inches long, by 24 inches 
in girth. On the 29th, some Tarakihi were brought to market, accom- 
panied by some fine large Trumpeter. ; 
February, except for a few days at the beginning of the month, was a 
time of full supply, both large and small fish being plentiful. On the 20th, 
a large Stingaree (Trigon thalassia) was caught and brought into town; and 
on the 22nd a Conger-eel ( Conger vulgaris), 6 feet 2 inches long, weighing 
40 lbs., was on exhibition. 
During March there was a fair average supply of all varieties. For 
some days near the beginning of the month a number of Horse Mackerel 
were brought to the market. On the 14th a Snapper, and on the 18th a 
Kahawai was caught. 
At the beginning of April fish were abundant, but the supply fell off 
towards the middle, when severe cold weather prevailed. On the 20th two 
Frostfish were brought to town, and on the 23rd a big Snapper. An 
incident of the month was the imposition of a license fee, under the 
authority of the new Act, of £1 for each net in use, : 
A19 
