BY P. S. SEAGER. 21 



sti'eams and lakes in Tasmania. The fish is a great acquisitioa 

 being a handsome, plump fish, veiy game and taking the fly 

 readily ; it is in great demand, and justifies all that had been 

 reported of the species prior to its introduction at the 

 instance of Mr. W. Tarleton, a member of the Commission, 

 whose attention was drawn to the fish in New Zealand when 

 visiting that colony. 



The Commissioners tendered their resignation on 20th June, 

 1887, and closed a history of 26 years' useful and valuable 

 work performed amidst many difiicnltios and discouragements. 

 They have often been assailed as incompetent, but when the 

 names of the moi'c prominent arc considered such charges 

 entirely fail. Who Avonld have dared to have challenged 

 the scientific knowledge and attainments of the late Morton 

 Alli)ort, who was so closely associated with the experiments 

 until success was attained, and whoso memory still lives in the 

 records of his work amongst the papers of this Society. 

 Self-denying, an ardent lover of nature in every form, his 

 death created a blank which has not yet been supplied. I 

 speak thus feelingly of him, having had the privilege of his 

 friendship and a personal knowledge of the zeal he threw 

 into the work of salmon acclimatisation. He was also the 

 means of introducing other fishes to the colony. Sir Robert 

 Officer, for many years Chairman of the Commission, was 

 also well known as a man of science and a zealous worker. 

 Mr. R. M. Johnston, F.L.S., etc., another member, needs no 

 eulogy from me. He is the author of the only comjjlete 

 catalogue of Tasmanian fishes, and his general scientific 

 attainments are universally acknowledged. Mr. Matthew 

 Seal's practical knowledge in fishery matters are also admitted 

 by all. The Hon. J. W. Agnew, the last Chairman of the 

 Commission, and Hon. Secretary of this Society, and a 

 member of the committee which reported on the subject iu 

 1858, is a worker of no mean order, and the other members 

 of the Commission at diiferent times — the Hon. Captain 

 Langdon, Thos. Giblin, the Hon. W. Archer, W. A. B. 

 Jamiesou, the Hon. Dr. Butler, R. C. Read, John Swan, A. 

 G. Webster, A. Riddoch, W. Tarleton, H. Weedon, R. P. 

 Irvine, Bernard Shaw, J. H. Wedge, J. Buckland, C. E. 

 Beddome, the Hon. W. A. B. Gcllibraud, and Ebenezer 

 Shoobridge — make up a roll to whom Tasmauians should bo 

 glad to acknowledge their indebtedness for years of self- 

 imposed laboiu*. If all the success desired has not been 

 attained, it is from no hide of zeal or labour on their part. 



I may be pardoned for having" thus referred to the mem- 

 bers of the late Commission, having worked with tlicm as 

 their Secretary for many years, and I submit with confidence 

 that an impartial study of what they performed during 



