972 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



by the October or November mail-steamer this year, to be followed in 

 February by a quarter of a million of the ova of the white fish [Gorego- 

 nus albus), which is a very valuable species of salmonoid, for acclimati- 

 zation in our lakes, and estimated the cost at £400. Fearing that I 

 might traverse arrangements entered into in the colony for the same 

 purpose, and thus cause more ova to be sent out than could be reared 

 in the breeding-houses in New Zealand, I inquired if any such order had 

 been received, and being assured to the contrary, as sueh an arrange- 

 ment could not have been made without Professor Baird's knowledge, I 

 telegraphed to Sir Julius Vogel, on the 17th July, to overtake the San 

 Francisco mail, informing him of terms on which the ova could be ob- 

 tained, and suggesting a vote on the same terms as on former occasions, 

 viz, that acclimatizacion societies should bear half the expense, at the 

 same time forwarding a copy of the telegram to Professor Baird, who 

 replied (21st June), " I think I can, without difficulty ,*carry out your 

 promise to Sir Julius Vogel in regard to fish eggs, by delivering to any 

 agent of the colony in San Francisco, properly packed, a half-million of 

 salmon eggs in November, and a quarter-million of white fish eggs later 

 in the year, for the sum of £400 sterling." 



On reaching San Francisco, on the 10th August, I spoke to Mr. Creigh- 

 ton, abd also to Mr. Craig, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and 

 to the British consul, Mr. Booker, all of whom agreed to see to the 

 arrangements for shipping the ova in case instructions should have been 

 sent by government to the Fishery Commission, or if they arrived in San 

 Francisco after I left on the 16th. 



From Honolulu, finding no instructions had been directed there from 

 the colony, I wrote to Professor Baird, telling him that, in the event of 

 the Government of New Zealand approving of the arrangement I had 

 entered into with him, the ova would be delivered to Mr. Creighton, and 

 requesting him to address any further communication on that subject 

 to that gentleman. At the same time I pointed out to him that the 

 season was too far advanced for receiving so large a consignment of 

 salmon ova this year; but I still hoped that the shipment of whiteflsh 

 ova would be approved of bv government, and sent as contemplated, 

 and that the salmon ova could follow next season. I also wrote to Mr. 

 Creighton, telling him that I had received no instructions at Honolulu, 

 and leaving the matter in his hands in case he should receive any in- 

 structions. 



On arriving at Wellington, on 16th September, I found that a letter of 

 instructions from Sir Julius Vogel, dated 26th July, had crossed me 

 between San Francisco and Honolulu, and that a copy had been sent to 

 Mr. Creighton. This letter authorized the expenditure of £500, to cover 

 every liability of the government for shipment, and all the expenses in 

 America, on the seas, and in New Zealand. Anything in excess to be 

 defrayed by the societies. Under the circumstances I recommend the 

 vote still to be taken, although a small part may be required this year 

 for the white-fish ova. 



