BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 291 



CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO TRE PROCUREMENT OF CER- 

 TAIN FISHERY IMPLEMENTS FOK THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW 

 SOUTH WALES. 



By CAPT. J. TV. COLLINS. 



[Letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



I have the honor to submit the following report of the correspondence 

 relative to the procurement of fishery apparatus for the Government of 

 New South Wales. 



On the 5th of September, 1881, I received from Sir Saul Samuel, the 

 agent-general of the New South Wales Government, the following letter, 

 dated 5 Westminster Chambers, Victoria street, S. W., London, August 

 22, 1881 : 



" I have the honor to inform you that I am anxious to procure for my 

 government the undermentioned, namely: 



"A purse-seine, such as is used in the menhaden fishery on the Maine 

 coast, North America. 



"A bultow or set-line, such as is used by the French fishermen at 

 Newfoundland. 



" I learn from Mr. Spencer Walpole, the inspector of English fish- 

 eries, that I may possibly purchase them of you. 



u Should you be able to furnish me with these articles, and will have 

 the goodness to forward them to Messrs. R. W. Cameron & Co., 23 

 South William street, New York, properly packed for transmission to 

 Sydney, I shall be much obliged to you. 



" By this post I write to Messrs. Cameron & Co., directing them to 

 receive the goods and to pay all charges that may be incurred by you. 



" If you should be able to comply with this request, will you please 

 render your account to Messrs. Cameron & Co. accordingly." 



To this I replied from Washington, under date of September 7, 1881, 

 as follows : 



"Your favor of August 22, requesting me to obtain and transmit to 

 your government, through your New York agents, a purse-seine and 

 line-trawl, is at hand. 



" I shall take pleasure in executing the commission you have honored 

 me with, and the matter will receive my close attention. 



" With the seine and line I shall send certain articles which are in- 

 dispensable for their proper management, and which, I have no doubt, 

 will be well appreciated by the people of New South Wales. 



"Any future service you may require will be most cheerfully given." 



On the 6th of September I received the following letter from E. W. 



