"282 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 



Accordingly, during the same month, I repaired to Cooma, equipped 

 "with the necessary nets, transport cans, &c., Mr, Dawson accompanying. 

 The operations for the capture of the perch were carried out at Tarsus, 

 some miles (down the Murrumbidgee) from Cooma, and about 5 miles 

 iiom Bunyan Railway Station. At this point the Murrumbidgee 

 le:i,ves its rugged gorges in the mountains, and begins to meander about 

 on the upland plain, only to enter the rugged country again later on. 



Owing to a sudden downpour on several parts of the watershed of 

 the Upper Murrumbidgee just before my arrival, the water was very 

 turbid ; and was loaded with decomposing debris — ^principally sheep 

 and rabbit droppings. This had contaminated the water to such an 

 exrent as to render it almost unfit for fish life ; and, consequently, 

 •considerable difficulty was experienced in keeping the fish alive as 

 they were captured. This was all the more noticeable when it is 

 considered that the mountain or Macquarie perch is — with good water — 

 a ^ery hardy fish. 



Altogether 414 perch, ranging from 3 to 9 inches in length, were 

 placed (in two consignments) in the waters of the Snowy River by 

 Mr. A. F. Rose and myself. The first consignment, consisting of 205 

 perch, 3 to 8 inches in length, was put in at Coolamatong Crossing, some 

 miles above Dalgety, on Sunday afternoon, 25th February. The second 

 consignment, comprising 209 perch, from 3 to 9 inches in length, was 

 put in the river at Rickey's Crossing — a short distance below Buckley's 

 Crossing (Dalgety) — two days later. A few of the perch were 

 sexually mature, others would, if surviving, become so at the end of 

 1912, and most of the remainder at the end of the present year. 



Both consignments were carried in 8-galion trout cans, as rapidly 

 as possible, by speedy motor-car. Under the circumstances, i.e., 

 considering the badness of the water, I am doubtful whether I could 

 have been nearly so successful with any other form of conveyance. 



Perhaps I need not be regarded as too optimistic when I say that 

 great results may reasonably he expected from the introduction of this 

 fine -food and sporting fish into the Snowy River. As regards the natural 

 conditions it appears to me that no river is more suitable for the 

 mountain perch, and it should fill a place in these waters which is at 

 pre--;eut practically unoccupied. Ever since my first introduction to 

 the waters of the Snowy, I have seen that what might be called a 

 "" nr'.tural vacancy " existed, which apparently could be filled only by 

 a fiNh of the perch family, and in the mountain perch we have a fish 

 that is already adapted by nature to our mountain streams, and is 

 therefore particularly suitable for the waters into which it has been 

 put. If only a moderate number of those planted survive, and are 

 able to reproduce, it should not be many years before the fish is firmly 

 established. It will then add largely to the attractiveness of the 

 Snowy to the growing stream of angling tourists, and, in addition, 

 wiU supply local residents with a very fine food fish, which, as regards 



