HABITS OF MURRAY COD. 3G5 



on board the Li ncohi shire. I went to the Docks to 

 receive the fish. Mr. Thatcher, the steward of the 

 vessel, reported to me that he had received on board 

 the Lincolmhire, on Saturday, February 20th, 130 fish 

 measuring from 2 in. to 2^m. long. They were placed 

 on board in excellent condition by Mr. Spragg, Secretary 

 of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, and had 

 been caught by the fishermen of the Murray Fishing 

 Company at the junction of the Edward and Murray 

 liiver ; floated down the river to Echren, and thence 

 forwarded to Melbourne by the Victoria Eailway Com- 

 pany. The vessel used to transport them was a cask 

 containing 50 gallons, measuring 3ft. Sin. at the mouth, 

 and 4ft. deep, the vessel being slung on gimbols. These 

 fish all died suddenly on February 28th, in consequence, 

 it is supposed, that clean water had not been given 

 them. I give these details in case the experiment is 

 tried again. The following is Mr. Wilson's character 

 of the Murray cod in abstract : — He is idle, he moves 

 but slowly, and in consequence he cannot do injury to 

 the young fish, which are generally so alert. He is 

 solitary in his habits, he swims up little currents of 

 water, and above all he easily accommodates himself to 

 live in a water-hole — -a water-hole being a large hole 

 in the bed of the river always fiUl of water, fi-equently 

 found in the rivers of Victoria, when the great heat of 

 the summer has di'ied up their course. 



Kivers which refuse to carry the salmon would be 

 favourable to the Murray cod. It is essentially a fish of 

 fresh water. The Murray cod is said to grow in his own 

 country to a great weight, such as 601b s. 



The flesh of the Murray cod is reported to be excellent 

 eating, and it is better than that of a good mullet. 



In May, 1880, I received, through the kindness of Dr. 



