59 



15. From C.B. Wilkinson, Esq., section of an Armstrong Segment Shell, with 

 time and concussion fuse as fixed before firing. 



Mr. M. Allport read a " Report on the present state of the fry of the 

 salmon and salmon trout at the Plenty, and of the taking of the first spawn 

 from the brown trout." 



After reading the paper, Mr. Allport further remarked that of the first 

 batch of the brown trout (now about two years old) there were still in the 

 ponds probably two hundred ; and it was noticed that the proportion of males 

 to females was that of three of the former to one of the latter. In all cases of 

 artificial fish-bree ling at home— at least as regarded the genus Salmo — this 

 proportion was found invariably to exist. 



Mr. Allport, sen., thought this ratio was perhaps a general one, and was 

 probably intended to provide an excess of tlie railt,large portions of which 

 were of course liable to be swept away by the streams or currents in which 

 the spawning took place. 



Dr. Officer was very happy in beiag able to confirm the statement in Mr. 

 M. Allport's report as to the percentage of healthy-looking ova in the late 

 shipment. Every individual present when the boxes were opened calculated 

 that, at the very least, 40 per cent, of the ova were healthy, but no one 

 could say how many of these were unimpregnated, or in how many the seeds 

 of death already existed. The wonder was that we obtained so many living 

 fish. Six thousand salmon promising to arrive at maturity 'constituted a great 

 success. He thought great numbers of the ova had died very recently, and 

 had the voyage been prolonged only a very few days he feared the mortality 

 would have been so great as to have seriously imperilled the entire success of 

 the experiment. From frequent visits to the ponds he could testify that 

 everything which zeal and energy could accomplish had been done by Mr. 

 Ramsbottom, and the general arx-angements were now so perfect that he did 

 not thiak any improvement could be made. The experiment has been the 

 greatest, and the most promising as to its results of anything of the kind that 

 had ever hitherto been accomplished, and the achievement was certain to 

 obtain the greatest possible credit from the whole of the scientific world. For 

 the valuable, lucid, and temperate paper just read, he thought our best 

 thanks were due to the author, and he begged to move accordingly. 

 The motion was seconded by Mr. Johnston, and carried unanimously. 

 Mr. M. Allport returned thanks, and, in answer to a query, observed that 

 Mr. Ramsbottom did not expect the salmon to return from the sea till fifteen 

 months after they had reached it. In this opinion he quite concurred, although 

 the belief in their return in a much shorter period was held by many men 

 of the highest scientific repute at home. Mr. Ramsbottom's opinion, he might 

 mention, had been considerably strengthened by a circumstance which had 

 come under the observation of his brother. He (Mr. Ramsbottom's brother) 

 was engaged in Ireland some time ago in stocking with salmon a river which 

 previously contained none. On this river falls existed which prevented the fish 

 coming up from the sea. He therefore placed ladders on these falls, and 

 stocked the upper waters with the fish. In due time they were able to descend 

 to the sea, and to return by means of the artificial assistance rendered to 

 them ; when it was found that the time of the return of the first fish was 

 fifteen months from the date of the downward voyage. 



Mr. F. Abbott read some notes on the " Abstract Tables of 25 year?' 

 Meteorological Observations taken at HobartTown," recently presented by him 

 to the Society, and a copy of which he laid before the meeting. 



Discussion ensued, and a general opinion was exp'*essed that these valuable 

 returns should be printed for distribution with the least possible delay. 



The Secretary mentioned that at the request of the Council he had written 

 to Government on the subject. The Council were very anxious that the ab- 

 Htracts should have been in type before the time fixed for the Intercolonial 

 Exhibition, where their importance could uot fail to have been appreciated. He 

 eared, however, that the Government printing-office would be so fully occu- 

 pied during the session of parliament that there was not much probability of 

 their being printed till after that period, except it was thought advisable that 

 considerable expense for extra labor should be incurred. 



Mr. Abbott thought they had a claim on the Government for the printing 

 of these returns in time for the Intercolonial and ParisiaiL Exhibitions. In 



