TEANSMISSION OF SALMON EGGS TO AUSTRALIA, ETC. 827 



principle became extinguished, as sllo^vu by the ovum becoming white 

 or opaque. The fish which were hatched, however, were stroug and 

 healthy. For a time the dead eggs picked out were over 3,000 a day, 

 and luospects wer.e rather gloomy, but circumstances proved that it 

 was more from the conditions to which the ova had been subjected be- 

 fore their arrival that the losses were attributable than to then- treat- 

 ment after landing. 



The total shipment was supposed to be 50,000 ova, but from a rough 

 count the number received was estimated at 55,000. When the eggs 

 were opened, one layer of about 7,000 ova was put in each box. The 

 combined stream runs through the boxes from one to eight, the first 

 boxes getting the fresh, cool water, and having the best chance, the 

 water heating 2° in passing through the boxes in hot weather. When 

 the hatching was nearly finished, a very marked difference was observ- 

 able in the nuuiber hatched in each box. Ko. 1 had only about 1,000 

 live fish out of 7,000 eggs. These eggs were on the top nearest the 

 ice. The next layer in No. 2 had probably 3,000 fish out of 7,000 ova. 

 No. 3 was the best .of all, and there were probably 0,000 live fish out of 

 7,000 ova. Nos. 4, 5, and G were pretty equal, and hatched over 50 per 

 cent. The eggs in No. 7 hatched out much earlier, but the percentage 

 of loss was above the average. No. 8 opened a day later, and the lowest 

 layer of eggs hatched out very quickly, having the warmest water, and 

 produced probably 5,000 fish. 



It will thus be seen that the diflerent lots of eggs, when treated 

 exactly in the same way, varied very materially in the number hatched, 

 showing that the causes of this dift'ereuce were to be looked for in the 

 treatment of the ova when first taken, or in the mode of packing, rather 

 than in their management after their arrival in Australia. 



After the young fish were fairly hatched but few losses occurred, 

 probably not 50 in the whole number. Of the ova, only about 500 

 remained t'o hatch on the 24th, and that day, although the hottest of 

 the season, did not appear to injure the alcvins, as the young fish at this 

 stage are called. The number of live fish is now about 28,000, which is 

 a not unsuccessful result. Had the ova arrived a week earlier, probably 

 three-fourths, could have been saved. If they had been a week later, 

 probably they would have been a mass of putrefaction from the fish 

 hatching out, as happened with the first lot of .20,000 California ova 

 which I had brought over three years ago. 



Success in most things is the result of good arrangements, made with 

 a thorough knowledge of the subject, and combined with favorable 

 circumstances, where these are beyond control. The result in this case 

 shows what a narrow line may lie between success and failure. 



The question now becomes, What is it best to do with these 28,000 

 young salmon ? While they are in the alevin stage the losses are com- 

 paratively shght, little feeding is required, and they only require to be 

 kept from enemies and allowed a good sujjply of cool water. When the 



