Vi PROCEEDINGS, APRIL. 



iDdnced the previous evening to give them vermicelli for food, but 

 whether that killed them or not I could not say. I have, however, 

 brought a little of it with me to have it analysed. It was certainly not 

 the temperature, for it stood on that day at 40. I removed the only 

 living one into Plymoutli water, but it took no food, and on the 20th, 

 when we were in the 0th deg. of latitude, it died while I was looking at 

 it. The temperature of the water was then only 35. I have by this 

 experiment proved that there cannot be the slightest doubt about 

 carrying living fry safely if any proper precautious about the water 

 being supplied with the necessary quantity of oxygen are taken, and 

 that there can be no dilliculty in doing this. I will now conclude these 

 too lengthy and perhaps somewhat tedious observations by asking your 

 indulgence, and saying that having examined the fish lately taken by 

 the Governor I had no hesitation in pronouncing it a true salmon, and I 

 am quite convinced that no practical mai who would see the fish would 

 ever think of calling it anything but a salmon. Whether it be the true 

 salnio sahu- or not, it is, at any rate, a fish which would be considered 

 and treated as a salmon in salmon countries ; would be sold and 

 purchased as sucli, and if the colonists of Tasmania seek for more than 

 Ireland, which now exports salmon to the amount of over £600,000 

 worth annually, I cannot help saying that I think they are hard to be 

 pleased, and ought to go without them. 



The paper was listened to with marked attention and freauently 

 applauded, and at its conclusion Sir Thomas said no scientist would 

 consider or talk of the f:sh we have in Tasmania in any other way but 

 as a salmon. He remembered three or tour years ago Mr. Seager sent 

 him three fish which after writing his own opinion of, he submitted to 

 an eminent member of the Royal Society of Dublin, an icthyologist and 

 a well-known scientist, who was not aware of his opinion and wrote one 

 that exactly coincided with it. It was that one fisii was a true salmon, 

 one was not, and there was a doubt about the third. He took this fish 

 before one of the most celebrated scientists and icthyologists, a man 

 with a European reputation, but tliis gentleman would not give an opinion 

 until he knew where it came from. After some demur the information 

 that it came from Tasmania was given, and the authority then said it 

 was not a salmon. (Laughter.) As he went away this gentleman said, 

 *• You are going to take it to somebody else. You may take it to the 

 six best scientists in England, and you will get six different opinions," 

 Sir Thomas concluded by apologising for taking up so much time, but 

 as he had heard it whispered that the Royal Society had conferred the 

 honour of electing him an honorary member, he desired to take the 

 opportunity of saying that he felt deeply indebted to the gentlemen 

 composing this Royal Society for the very kind manner in wliich they 

 bad appreciated any little exertion of his in trying to benefit the colony. 

 He had only to assure them, to assure all present, and to assure every 

 colony that wherever it was possible for him to assist them, either by 

 advice or work, it would allbrd him the greatest pleasure to do so. 

 (Cheers.) 



The Hon. P. 0. FrsH regretted the absence of the Hon. Dr. Agnew, whose 

 name would ever Ixi mentioned with great respect for his professional and 

 private worth, and for his munificence t<» thin Institution. He would desire, 

 AH }je wiwsure all present would do, to tender tcj our distinguished visitor, 

 Sir Thomas I!rady, this public and hearty welcome, accompanied with 

 congratulatioiiH upon the HuceesHful fruition of the important work which 

 ho na« tmvellcxl w* far Uj occompliHli. We welcome him oa a scientist 

 eminent in his Hjicciality, and have much gratification in learning his opinion 

 that the fi hi 1 lx;for«; uh, caught by His Excellency, is a true Sa/mo .salnr, 

 and, therefon;, about its ciiaractcr their existed no longer any <lubility. 

 It was hiii duty to regard Sir Thomas' mission, from a utiliUirian point 



