TEANSMISSION OF SALMON EGGS TO AUSTRALIA, ETC. 841 



stating that the distribution was successfnl. The eggs have hatched 

 out beautifully, and every i^romise is given that the noble streams of 

 New Zealand will be stocked with California salmon, thanks to your 

 kind co-operation and the liberality of the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion. 



Several years ago Scotch salmon were hatched out in Otago, but the 

 experiment was considered a failure as none of the fish returned, wjiereas 

 salmon-trout became plentiful, having been introduced at the same time. 

 By last mail I observe a statement to the effect that two of the Scotch 

 colonists of Otago had seen a salmon in the shallows of a Southland 

 river recently, from which it is i^resumed that the fish are returning. 

 Should any further evidence be given on this point I shall apprise you 

 of it, as it is one of very great interest in the practical work of acclima- 

 tizing food fish. 



Kelating to the shipment of whitefish last year, I need hardly par- 

 ticularize. They arrived in New Zealand in good order, and a iwrtion 

 of the eggs were hatched out in Canterbury, having been transshipped 

 at Auckland, but were lost owing to ignorance regarding their habits, 

 as the little fellows get up and swim the moment they are hatched out. 

 The remainder were lost through a series of misadventures, and gener- 

 ally from want of prei^aredness. Great care was taken at this side, the 

 second shipment having been nearly three weeks in the Pacific Com- 

 pany's ice-house here, and besides being packed in ice were frequently 

 drenched with water of the temperature of the eggs. The boxes were 

 occasionally turned while in the ice-house. This relieved the pressure 

 on the lower layers. I received most valuable assistance from Mr. Wood- 

 bury, foreman of the State fish-hatching establishment, San Leandro, 

 to whom the credit of x)reserving the eggs is wholly due. 



The shipment of 500,000 whitefish eggs for New Zealand this season 

 fortunately went by the City of Sidney, Captain Dearborn. The crates 

 were opened and the eggs examined in the ice-house by Mr. Woodbury 

 and myself, and were in good condition 5 whereas a shipment from Mr. 

 Clarke, ixxcked in the same way, for the California and Nevada State 

 fish commission, was baked. The cause was overcare in the exx)ress car. 

 The eggs were kept near the stove, whereas it should be generally known 

 that they cannot be kept too cool in transit across the continent. 



We unscrewed the lids, ascertained the temperature, and gave them 

 a good drenching ; then replaced the lids and packed them in ice. Two 

 days afterwards I had the boxes surrounded by ice, and saw them placed 

 in the ship's ice-house, to prevent the possibility of an accident. I put 

 two tons of ice on board for the shii)'s use, packed in the Auckland So- 

 ciety's ice-chest, to avoid disturbing the eggs as much as possible. I can 

 only hope that they will arrive safe. 



I informed the New Zealand Government by cable of the consignment, 

 and wrote the colonial secretary and Mr. Firth fully on the subject, giv- 

 ing the latter valuable hints regarding the mode of hatching and feed- 



