TRANSMISSION OF SALMON EGGS TO AUSTRALIA, ETC. 883 



ing tlie coasting voyage ; proportion of eggs hatched out in each prov- 

 ince, and how the young fish were distributed. I approximated the 

 time on the coasting voyage, but I was ignorant of the success, if 

 any, except in Auckland, the newspapers of which contained a general 

 statement that the eggs distributed by Mr. Firth had hatched out. I 

 trust this information will be supphed by return mail. It may not be 

 too late for Professor Baird's report, and will complete my otherwise 

 imperfect one. 



I observe by the London Times, that Sir Julius Yogel sent out a con- 

 signment of salmon ova from England, per steamer Chimborazo, via 

 Melbourne. 



The result of this experiment will be of great interest to the United 

 States Fish Commission, and to the California State Fish Commission, 

 to both of which Kew Zealand is under great and lasting obligations. 



I would, therefore, esteem it a favor if you would advise me, in due 

 course, of the success had in introducing British salmon, and the rela- 

 tive cost of the two sources of acclimatization. 



As the Sacramento salmon may now be said to be introduced perma- 

 nently into IsTew Zealand, details regarding its habits, &c., will be inter- 

 esting and of value to the colony. I therefore append extracts from the 

 biennial report of the California fisheries commissioners, presented to 

 the State legislature recently, bearing upon the point. It will be seen 

 that it possesses many special advantages over the British salmon, and 

 for commercial and food purposes is decidedly superior. On economic 

 grounds alone, the acclimatization of this excellent food fish is an event 

 of very great importance." I likewise extract the passages relating to 

 whitefish and catfish (the latter introduced, I understand, by Mr. Thomas 

 Eussel, C. M. G). 

 I have, &c., 



E. J. CEEIGHTOK 



[Inclosure in No. 34.] 



Extract from Biennial Report of tJie California State Fisheries Commis- 

 sioners, 187G-'77. 



Salmon (Salmo quinnat). 



1. Before the discovery of the gold mines in California, nearly all of 

 the tributaries of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Elvers were the spawn- 

 ing beds of the salmon. Soon after mining commenced the sediment 

 deposited by gold washing covered the gravel bottoms of the streams. 

 The fish found no proper place on which to deposit its eggs, and after 

 three or four years became extinct in those tributaries. The instinct of 

 the fish leads it to return from the ocean to the stream in which it was 

 born for the purposes of reproduction. If this place, for any reason, is 

 rendered unfit, it will not seek a new and aj^proi^riate place. In 1850 



