886 Transactions.— Zoology. 
Fish were in fair supply during May, except during a few days of 
stormy weather. Some exceptionally large Flounders were caught on 
the 7th; on the 8th, a fine Snapper; and towards the close of the month 
Trevally were very plentiful. 
June was a month of very severe weather all through, but with the 
exception of a few days the supply was good and sometimes plentiful. 
On the 19th, a solitary Barracoota was caught in a net in the Lower 
Harbour. A market for the sale of fish, etc., was the subject of some 
discussion during the month. 
July was characterised by a continuance of fine clear frosty weather 
nearly all through the month, winding up with a snowstorm on the last 
day. The great feature of the month was the abundance of Frostfish which 
were brought to town in greater or less number for 20 days. They were 
mostly brought from the beaches between Blueskin and the Heads, and 
formed quite a small harvest to the younger settlers along that line of the 
coast, as pretty fair prices were given for them by the dealers, who resold 
them at prices ranging from five to ten shillings each. 
In accordance with the wish of the President and others, expressed at 
the time I read the paper last year, I wrote to Mr. Traill, of Stewart 
Island, for particulars as to the state of the trade there, but I never 
received any reply. However, I am able to give the following statistics as 
to the number of boats and men engaged in the trade at the present time, 
August 7th, 1878 :— 
There are engaged in the fishing, outside of the Heads, 9 whale-boats 
and 2 cutters, employing about 30 men. In the Harbour or seining branch 
there are 16 boats and about 40 men engaged. At Port Chalmers there are 
two smoke-houses with four men to each. At Stewart Island I have 
learned there are two smoke-houses, and about 80 men engaged in 
boating, ete. 
Hoping that the figures and facts I have drawn together may be of 
some use to the members, I now bring my three years’ task to a conclusion. 
Art, LITL—TAÀe District of Okarito, Westland. By A. Hamilton. 
[Read before the Westland Institute, 16th July, 1878.] 
Tae Okarito district comprises a large area of comparatively unknown 
ground, as the whole of the settlements which have at one time or another 
existed on it, have been either on the sea-coast or on the river-beds. The 
sole attraction to settlers having been the “ Auri sacra fames," agriculture 
has been comparatively neglected, though many excellent areas of groun 
