12 ACCLIMATISATIOX OF THE SALMOXID.E IN TASMANIA. 



well to hero enter iuto rather full details in relation to this 

 shipment of ova, as the produce formed the first stock of 

 salmon and trout liberated in Australian waters. Many 

 theories are now advanced as to the various species to be 

 found in these waters, and doubts have frequently been 

 raised as to whether true salmon ova were ever received ; 

 various opinions have also been expressed upon different 

 specimens of trout (S. fario), which have been called fario 

 erioz, etc. Under these circumstances I have thought it 

 well to record all available information in my possession, 

 which may helj) to set at rest unfounded theories and 

 incorrect assumptions upon so important a matter. The 

 salmon ova were obtained from the following rivers in 

 England and Wales : — 



River Dover, 17,000, obtained by R. Ramsbottom. 



Rivers Ribble and Hodder, 35",000 to 45,000, obtained by 



Westell Ramsbottom. 

 River Severn, 30,000 to 40,000, obtained by W. Ramsbottom 



and Allies. 

 River Tweed, 20,000, obtained by Johnston. 



With regard to the salmon the names of those who 

 collected the ova are well-known as men of experience who 

 were not likely to err in the choice of fish for stripping ; that 

 the greatest caution and care were exercised does not admit 

 of a doubt Mr. Youl has always indignantly repudiated the 

 suggestion that any mistake could possibly have been made 

 by sending for salmon ova that of another species. 



I have a newspaj)er clip]iing which thus refers to Mr. 

 Ramsbottom's proceedings at the River Dovey : — 



*'The Dovey Fisheries at Machynlleth. — Mr. Ramsbottom, 

 who has been so sxiccessful in the artificial propagation 

 of salmon, has lately visited the Dovey for the 

 purpose of obtaining salmon ova to send to Tasmania. 

 He commenced nr-tting in Mr. Bulkeley's water on the upj»er 

 part of th(! Dovey, but liere only succeeded in getting two 

 fish suited to his purpose. These he }>ut in a small piece of 

 water near the river at ^^lallwyd, secured by a cord to their 

 tails; but, allhough he had paid the men very li]»i"rally, and 

 explained throughout tlie neighbourhood the great object the 

 fish were to be used for and the enormous ex|)ense already 

 incurred, and that the ship that was to convey the ova was on 

 the eve of sailing, some scoundrels actually cut the cords and 

 stole the fish (luring the time of service on Sunday. Ho 

 subsequently, with the permission of the Preservation Society, 

 succeeded in getting from the lower part of the Dovey at 

 Derwenlas two splendid female salmon of 281b. and 141b. 

 weight, laden with spawn, from which he obtained all that 



