Experimental trawling off New Zealand, 1900

A trawling expedition undertaken on behalf of the Government during the autumn and early winter months of 1900. The object of the expedition was to make an experimental survey of the coasts of the New Zealand, especially in the neighbourhood of the more thickly populated centres, 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, etc., in the sea surrounding these Islands.
To carry out the experimental trawling operations the Government chartered the steam-trawler \"Doto\" owned by B. A. Petersen and Co., of Napier. The \"Doto\" was originally built for a steam-yacht, but was subsequently bought by Captain Nielsen, for Messrs. Petersen and Co., in Sydney and taken over to Napier, where she was fitted out and used as a trawler. She is a composite vessel of 28 tons gross register, 66 ft. in length, 12 ft. beam, draught 6 ft. 6 in., and fifteen horse power nominal. The vessel was fitted with the otter-trawl, which while quite as effective can be much more easily and quickly put down and picked up than the beam trawl, and is therefore altogether better suited for the short tows required for experimental work.

1900年秋冬两季，受政府委托开展了一项拖网科考航次。本次航次旨在对新西兰沿岸开展试验性勘测，尤其聚焦人口较为稠密的中心区域周边海域，以探明可开展拖网作业的渔场范围、各海域可捕捞的适销商品鱼品种，验证在距离优质市场可行航程范围内的部分海域是否具备开展高效拖网作业所需的条件；若具备，则将相关信息记录归档，为拖网产业相关从业者提供指导；同时全面收集环绕新西兰群岛周边海域食用鱼类分布等相关资料。

为开展本次试验性拖网作业，政府租赁了内皮尔（Napier）的B·A·彼得森公司（B. A. Petersen and Co.）所有的蒸汽拖网渔船“多托号（"Doto"）”。“多托号”最初为蒸汽游艇建造，后由尼尔森船长受彼得森公司委托在悉尼购得，随后运至内皮尔港进行改装，作为拖网渔船投入使用。该船为复合结构船舶，总注册吨位28吨，全长66英尺，船宽12英尺，吃水6英尺6英寸，额定功率15马力。该船配备了板拖网（otter trawl）：其捕捞效能与桁杆拖网（beam trawl）相当，但下放与起网操作更为简便快捷，因此更适配试验性作业所需的短距离拖网作业需求。