28 KESULTS OF THE ATTEMPTS TO ACCLIMATISE SALMO SALAE. 



This shipment was, liowever, a great success, ior the 

 Tasmaniau experiment demonstrated to the world that it was 

 possible to retard incubation without destroying vitality for 

 a period sufficiently prolonged to cover the transport of ova 

 to the remotest parts of the globe. It also gave a fresh 

 impulse to acclimatisation generally, for now that the main 

 difficulty had been successfully disposed of it caused 

 increased attention to the discovery of improved methods 

 in the imj)ortant details of packing and insulating. 



One of the most important discoveries in this resjiect was 

 the result of general observation, viz., that if the ova had 

 arrived at the eyed stage of development prior to being 

 insulated in refrigerating boxes and chambers they would be 

 more able to survive the adverse conditions to which they 

 would be subjected by artificial refrigeration and the 

 accidents during prolonged retardation of development when 

 transported to loLg distances. 



Another important lesson taught by noting causes of 

 failure was the necessity for guarding against the ice doing 

 damage as it melted into smaller dimensions by arrange- 

 ments which would confine its mass in sepax-ate though 

 contiguous receptacles while securing a continuous supply of 

 the melting ice to each tray of ova embedded and overlai)pcd 

 with clean pressed layers of soft moss. The beneficial result 

 of these improvements in matters of detail is exemplified by 

 the last splendid experiment carried out from start to finish 

 by the grand veteran of acclimatisation, Sir Thomns Brady ; 

 for out of the 400,000 eyed ova packed by him in insulated 

 boxes there were not more than 2 per cent, of mortality when 

 transferred to the hatching boxes of the Eiver Plenty on 

 April lOth, 18S8. 



This most successful result has far surpassed the expec- 

 tations of the most hopeful, and the colony owes a deep 

 debt of gratitude to Sir Thomas Brady, " the Grand Old 

 Man," who has in this and in former exjicriinents 

 enthusiastically traversed the length and brcadtli of " Ould 

 Ireland," collecting ova, capturing and strii>ping mature fish, 

 and fertilising and packing ova. No one but those engaged in 

 such work can form an estimate of these loving labours ; the 

 long weary miles of travel in rain and snow; wading in rivers 

 up to tlie armpits for hours together ; the laltorious hours 

 preparing trays and tenderly laying out the thousands of tiny 

 pink eggs; and tin; anxious care of packing and provision for 

 transport. All these matters would be beyond the powers 

 of ordinary men, l)ut they have been joyously and success- 

 fully overtaken by tliis grand enthusiast who has shown 

 Tasmanians, that inflomitablo energy and enthusiasm in a 

 good cause breaks down all difliculties, laughs at mere 



