PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 281 



Hunter River, at Oakhampton, contained a small piece of wood from 

 the gunwale of a puUing-boat. This was painted a bright blue on the 

 one side, and the fish had probably mistaken it for an insect. 



Having given the reader a general idea of the two species of perch 

 under special consideration in this paper, it will be well to pass on to 

 an account of their attempted acclimatisation in waters outside their 

 original habitat. 



I. — Introduction op the Mountain, or Macquarie, Perch 

 INTO the Snowy River. 



For a good many years past the section of the Snowy River (and 

 its feeders) running through the southern comer of the State of New 

 South Wales, has been justly renowned for its trout, which for so long 

 have become firmly established in its glorious, sparkling, upland waters. 

 Large numbers of both the European brown, or brook, trout (Salmo 

 fario var. ausonii), and the Californiau rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) — 

 notably the latter — are taken annually out of the waters of this section 

 of the southern tableland, by the many visitors and residents alike. 



It has long been thought, and at times informally suggested to 

 me, that it would be a good thing if anglers had the opportunity of 

 catching some perch-like fish as well, in the Snowy River. 



In the lower half of the Snowy, and right up to the falls, the 

 Australian bass already exists ; but these are not the trout waters, 

 and are, relatively, but little frequented. The suggested introduction 

 of some such fish appealed to me, as the upper waters of the Snowy 

 River and its feeders are really very extensive, and there seemed 

 every probability that a percoid fish once established might add largely 

 to the food supply of residents, while proving an additional attraction 

 to visitors. The questioii was : What fish would be suitable ? The 

 only percoid fish naturally occurriiig in any numbers in the upland 

 Manaro streams — ^such as the upper vv^aters of the Murrurabidgee and 

 its tributaries — in which trout have become firmly established, is the 

 mountain, or Macquarie, perch. This is a valuable fish of good edible 

 qualities, and, at the same time, an " angler's fish " ; and there seemed 

 to be every reason for supposing that it would do well in the environment 

 offered by the Upper Snowy. 



During February, 1912, Mr. Alfred F. Rose, of Cooma (who has 

 taken a good deal of interest in trout acclimatisation in the Ma)iaro 

 district) and Mr. Henry Dawson, who was the representative of InliUid 

 Fisheries on the late New South Wales Board of Fisheries, sug£;ested 

 that the mountain perch should be obtained in the Murrumbidgee 

 waters and transferred to the Snowy River, Mr. Rose very generously 

 offering that the Manaro Fish and Game Protection Society vrould 

 bear the cost of actual transport of the fishes. The suggestion was 

 supported by m.yself, and the Chief Secretary approved of the scheme 

 being carried out. 



