840 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Arrived at Houolulu October 18, where there was several hours' de- 

 tention ; arrived at Auckland November 3, Here the eggs were trans- 

 shipped, save the parcel of 50,000 for Victoria to the order of Sir Samuel 

 Wilson, which remained on board. The City of Sydney arrived at 

 Sydney on the 8th of November, and here a transshipment took jjlace, 

 the eggs for Melbourne being transferred by a steamer sailing for that 

 port. I am not aware what detention took place in Sydney, but the 

 voyage would be about thirty hours or two days. At all events the eggs 

 were properly cared for, and arrived at their ultimate destination in 

 sound condition, for I observed fi'om a Victoria newspaper that they 

 had been hatched out successfully. This, I should say, is the longest 

 voyage yet made by California salmon eggs which preserved their 

 vitality. 



Eevertiug to the New Zealand shii)ment, I inclose extract from Auck- 

 land Weekly News, November 20, 1877, which fully explains the prep- 

 arations made for the transportation of the eggs in ice to the various 

 parts of the colony. Captain Dearborn informed me that the transship- 

 ment and repacking were accomplished inside of two hours, and the eggs 

 sent across the isthmus, seven miles by the railroad, to the steamer on 

 the western harbor sailing for southern ports. The ordinary time of the 

 coasting steamers (writing from memory) is: To Nelson from Ouehunga, 

 the port of departure, 2 days ; Nelson to Wellington, 24 hours ; Nelson 

 to Greymouth, 1 to 2 days; Wellington to Napier, about 30 hours; 

 Wellington to Canterbury, 1 day; Canterbury to Dunedin, 1 day; 

 Dunedin to Southland, about 24 hours. 



I give the time approximately ; it certainly was not under this. It 

 should be borne in mind that the eggs passed through the tropics and 

 arrived in New Zealand and Australia at midsummer, when the heat is 

 great. The distribution in New Zealand was specially trying, owing to 

 the frequent transshipment and handling. For example, the consign- 

 ment of 50,000 eggs for Freymouth would be landed at Nelson and 

 transshipped to another steamer going down the coast. As the English 

 mail was forward, little or no detention would occur at Nelson, but there 

 is always a weather risk on the west coast of the middle island. How 

 that matter was I am unable to say. 



Again, the consignment of 50,000 for Napier would be landed at Wel- 

 lington, put on board a government steamer, and carried north along 

 the east coast, the steamboat traffic being chiefly on the west coast of 

 the north island. No time would be lost, however, on this line. A 

 further transshipment for Southland would take place at Dunedin, the 

 larger class of boats not going so far south as Foveaux Strait. It was 

 on this section that the whitefish eggs i^erished. 



As I remarked at the outset, I am unable to follow this distribution 

 closely. I infer from what Captain Dearborn tells me, and a note from 

 Mr. Firth, that the original programme was carried out, and as I have 

 not heard any reference to failure or miscarriage I have confidence in 



