TRANSMISSION OF SALMON EGGS TO AUSTRALIA, ETC. 881 



with an aerating ball and tube, containing the twelve surviving fish, 

 two large fish-cans filled with fresh artesian- well water, a four-gallon 

 block-tin bucket, and G packets, each containing ten ounces muriate of 

 iinimonia, and G packets, each containing ten ounces of niter, prepared for 

 the trip by Dr. Macdonald, of Lyttelton. The whole party was franked 

 by the general government, and the thanks of the society are due to all 

 the railway authorities in Christchurch. 



Haviug taken up my i^ositiou in the guard's van with one servant, 

 nine parts of water were placed in the four-gallon bucket, and three 

 packets of muriate of ammonia and three packets of niter being added, 

 the mixture was well stirred. The thermometer was then placed in it, 

 and it fell, in a short space of time, to 34° Fahr. The thermometer having 

 been withdrawn, the can containing the fish was placed in the bucket. 

 The servant kept continually aerating the water in the fish-can, and 

 thus, without changing the water or interfering with the mixture, we 

 arrived at Coalgate station at 7.15 p. m., the temperature of the mixture 

 during the journey never having exceeded 38°. 



After giving the fry fresh water and preparing the freezing mixture 

 as before, four of us started in the American trap, Mr. James Mcllraith 

 having kindly volunteered to accomjiany and show me the new road, 

 which skirts the swamp known by the name of Dr. TurnbuU. We, how- 

 ever, lost our way, and nearly two hours of our valuable time. As we were 

 approaching the hotel at Windwhistle, we were joined, according to ap- 

 pointment, by Mr. F. E. Upton, who, on horseback, piloted us to Snow- 

 den, the residence of Mr. W. Gerard, where we arrived between eleven 

 and twelve o'clock, midnight. 



Haviug partaken of some refreshments and given the fry fresh water, 

 we were supplied with another pair of horses by Mr. Gerard. Mr. LTpton 

 having taken Mr. Mcllraith's place in the vehicle, we continued our 

 journey towards Mr. Cotton's house, on the border of Lake Coleridge, 

 which we reached about 3 o'clock a. m. 



Owing to a cold northwesterly wind which had prevailed all night, 

 there was a considerable surf rolling onto the shores of the lake. We 

 therefore thought it advisable to liberate the fry in a small rivulet about 

 two hundred yards from the lake. Previously to liberating them we 

 took the can into a stable, lighted a candle, and satisfied ourselves that 

 not one of them was dead or injured. We then retraced our steps to 

 Snowden, and took possession of our beds about 5 a. m. Thursday, 21st 

 March. 



Lamentable as is the outcome of this handsome present from the 

 American Fish Commission, I congratulate the Canterbury Acclitimasa- 

 tion Society on the fact that nothing was left undone to insure success. 

 Ice was prepared according to Dr. Hector's instructions, and taken by 

 you on board the steamer Avhich conveyed the boxes of ova to Canter- 

 bury, but it is evident that the ice, en roiite from San Francisco or Auck- 

 land, must have failed, and the ova hatched out only to die. 

 56 F 



