XVI PROCEEDINGS, UXY. 



of museums, but against the arbitrary adoption of fixed forms, and 

 then applying them to fish under such changes as those presented in 

 acclimatisation here. He pointed out the undoubted variation existing 

 in the trout, and asked how naturalists could attirm the non-variation 

 of salmon in Tasmanian waters, where they were preserved from the 

 interfusion of other local types to break down the developing variations. 

 In this respect European opinions were not of much value, as they were 

 not aware of the limit of rareability in the new environment of 

 Tasmanian waters. Classification had undoubtedly failed to deal with 

 the ditiiculty, as Sir Thomas Brady had instanced the case of an 

 ichthyologist with a European reputation, who had plainly said that if a 

 specimen shown him from Tasmania were taken to six ditFurent autho- 

 rities, six different opinions would be given. What, then, was the 

 verdict? Between extinction or exodus, and modification produced 

 by environment he would decide in favour of the latter. He had 

 prepared a table of measurements, which would show that all the 

 classifications overlapped, except as to the number of scales to the 

 adipose fin. Not only did the characteristic overlap in different species 

 but individuals exhibited in different specimens the extreme of variation. 

 We had two classes of fish here known, and a third, a migratory fish 

 partaking of the characteristic of the other two, but differing from the 

 English S. Sular. He could not say definitely that the fish caught 

 by His Excellency was the English .S'. Snlar, but he would suggest 

 that it be designated S. Scdar Tcvimankiis. 



Mr. MoRTox said the difficulty Mr. Johnston had laid before them 

 had been dealt with by Ramsbottom in 1851, who quoted Lyell's 

 opinion that " future ioiiuirera have yet to determine the number of 

 species of S'dmonahi ." The true salmon kept in tlie ponds did not 

 agree with the measurement of the maxilary bone, but the scales did 

 agree. Few had gone so closely into the ichtliyology of Tasmania 

 as Mr. Johnston, but he (Mr. Morton) could not quite see that Gunther 

 and other authorities had disregarded all the facts advanced. The 

 fish presented by the Governor, after the opinion of Sir Tlios. Brady and 

 Mr. Johnston, he intended to label .S'. Salar, but paying due regard to 

 the criticism which might be brought to bear upon the specimen, he 

 intended to add Tu-tmanirAiK, because the fish would not fit with the 

 classification of Salmo sular. The subject was beset with difiiculties, 

 but Mr. Johnston's paper would lie printed, and he would see that 

 Gunther, Day, and other authorities received it. 



Sir Thomas Bkadv spoke in the highest terms of the papers, and 

 looked upon Mr. Johnston's as important, not only to the colonies, 

 but to every salmon producing country. He had noticed such variations 

 in fish from different rivers that fishermen could pick out of a sea catch 

 the fish that came from the Foyle, the Ban, or the Ballycastle Rivers. 

 Aa to colour, he had seen a haul of 'J, 100 .salmon and fish jiicked out, 

 the flesh of which were both white. He intended to send one of these 

 and the salmon sold in the public markets out to the Museum, 



Sir Lambert iJubson thought a few words would sum up Mr. .Johnston's 

 paper. It seemed to him that Mr. Johnston had gone back to first 

 principles, and abolishing the terms xalar, Initta, and J'tirio he simply 

 said — " We have the salmon in different variety." 



The Pkksidknt, in proposing a vote of thanks to the readers of the 

 papers, and .Sir Thomas Brady for his valuable remarks, spoke very 

 highly of the value of the papers and the interest he had in listening to 

 them. He thought .Mr. Johnston had disposed of the various theories 

 very ably, and iiad almost ruled that we have the salmon in some 

 variety. 



The vote of thanks was carried, and owing to the lateness of the hour 

 the reading of some other papers was postponed. 



