32 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



somewhat brackish — too much so for mau to drink of it. The average 

 depth of water in this lake may be about 12 feet, its circumference 

 some 35 miles. Fish of the above kind taken in it .are much better 

 eating than those in the river of which they are natives. We have put 

 some trout in this more than ten years ago, but there do not seem to 

 be any in it now. At any rate none have been taken or seen. We 

 have an elevation above sea-level of some 1,500 feet, and consequently 

 the climate is cool, well fitted for any of the Salmonidce. 8. Fario 

 grows to a great size. I have seen it 16 pounds weight, and frequently 

 7 and 8 jjounds in the lakes; not the lake above described, but other 

 smaller ones. In the streams it seldom exceeds 2 pounds. Now, my 

 object in thus describing our waters is to find out whether they would 

 be fit for Schoodic salmon, black bass, or shad. The two latter, if I 

 mistake not, are migratory, so would be useless here, but your land- 

 locked salmon (is it S. namaycush of Gunther?), 1 think, would do well 

 enough i)rovided it can propagate in still water. Streams are not to 

 be relied on here, at least those which run into any of our lakes. 



If your interest in pisciculture will lead you to give me the above 

 information I shall be much obliged. I would also like to know when 

 your Schoodic spawns. How long after spawning does it hatch? I 

 think there would be no difQculty in getting a box of spawn put in the 

 ice-house on one of the California mail steamers which would bring it 

 here from San Francisco in less than thirty days. 



Ballakat, Victoria, Australia, September 17, 1883. 



Abstract of Eeply by Professor Baird. 



It is impossible to send the American shad to Victoria, as we have 

 not learned how to transfer them over a much shorter trip to Europe. 

 There would be no difQculty in supplying you with eggs of the land- 

 locked salmon or lake trout. We have transnntted with entire success 

 eggs of both the California salmon and of our white-fish {Coregonus) to 

 Australia. The lake trout spawns on reefs in the Great Lakes, and 

 does not need to ascend into running water. One of the best fish that 

 could be introduced in your fresh waters would be the American cat- 

 fish. It is very hardy, grows rapidly, is a capital article for food, and 

 is measurably secure against the attacks of other fishes. It is not bel- 

 ligerent and interferes very little with its associates. I am about send- 

 ing a stock of catfish to Belgium, and possibly I might be able to do the 

 same to Australia. 



Please designate some colonial or other agent in San Francisco to re- 

 ceive the consignment and carefully house them in the steamer. 



I am somewhat disinclined to recommend the black bass. It is very 

 pugnacious and voracious, and might disturb the balance of life in your 

 waters, quite as much as have the rabbit and other old world species, 

 life on the land. 



Washington, D. C, November 5, 1883 



