726 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



from 1859 to at least 1S64, (see Bulletin <le la Societe Imperiale 

 Zoologique d'Accliraatation, 1860, 98, 432; 1803,153; 1864, 217, 305, 

 380; 1805, xxxvi,) but none were attended with eventual success. 



CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



Efforts appear to have been also made to introduce the species into 

 the waters of the Cape Colony, {op. cit., 1805, xxxvi,) but no documents 

 are at present available giving detailed information. 



EGYPT. 



As already indicated, Egypt is on the highway from Mauritius to 

 France; and, having a far more favorable cHmate, it was proposed to 

 acclimatize them in that country, and thence introduce them into 

 France. Koenig-Bey, the secretary to the Khedive, signified thedesire of 

 his government to be instrumental in such a work, (1804, 288, 314,) and 

 agreed to work on shares with tlie society, keeping one-half and prom- 

 ising to send the other when the weather became favorable (1864, 090). 

 Speciuiens were accordingly sent from Reunion by Messrs. Berg and 

 Manes to the Egyptian functionary, (1804, 539, 090,) but were all lost on 

 the way (1804, 539; 1805, 350); measures, however, were taken by the 

 committee of the Acclimatization Society at Mauritius to send a consign- 

 ment of fishes by every mail-steamer till success had crowned their efforts 

 (1804, 539). Although partial success seems to have attended the en- 

 deavors to introduce them,* it seems to have been ei)hemeral ; at least, 

 no accessible data give any positive information respecting essential 

 succ.^ss (1800, 598 ; 1809, 242). 



The recommendation has been made by the eminent ichthyologist, 

 Dr. Giinther, to attempt the introduction of the gourami (as well as the 

 European cat-fish and th? Australinn OUgorus) into England, (Rep. 

 Acclimatization Society of London ; Bulletins de la Societe d'Accli.'na- 

 tatiou de Paris, 1861, 98,) and others, too, hav^e been sanguine in the 

 belief that the acclimatization could be effected in England as well as in 

 Germany; but the attempt has never been made, and we may certainly 

 be easily convinced that if the climate of Marseilles and Southern 

 France is too cold to enable them to survive through the year, more 

 northern and colder countries would be still more incompetent to harbor 

 them. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



Referring to the first part of this article on the gourami for informa- 

 tion respecting the climate of the countries in which it thrives, and for 

 the results of rei)eated experience of the limit of low temperature which 

 it can withstand, and availing ourselves of the experience of the French, 

 we must be convinced that the fish cannot be acclimatized, atleastdirectly, 



* " Pres. (le S. A. Haliin, Pacha au Caire, cbez lequel ou m'a assur^ que ces poissons 

 .^taieut acclimates," 1866, 598. 



