D88 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A portion of the ova, about 20,000, was dispatched inlaud about 20 miles 

 farther, to be hatched in a stream rising among the inlaud mountains. 

 This water was selected on account of the temperature being lower than 

 any conveuieut stream in this neighborhood. The balance of the ova 

 was placed in a small stream from an artesian well, the boxes being 

 placed about 100 yards from the well. 



The ova when unpacked looked remarkably well ; the greatest care 

 had evidently been used in packing, and there could not have been more 

 than 2 per cent, dead ova. 



Ten days after the receipt the ova commenced to hatch, and within 

 20 days after arrival the whole of the ova had hatched with the excep- 

 tion of about 3 per cent., which died after unpacking. 



The other portion, although placed iu what was in November colder 

 water, did not succeed, principally, I think, on account of the water vary- 

 ing so much in temperature ; for although for weeks i)revious to the 

 arrival of the ova the water had been colder than with us, it had not 

 remained so, and, being exposed to the sun for a considerable distance, 

 it had become too warm after the fish commenced to hatch. After the 

 ov^a that had been detained had hatched it was ascertained that our 

 boxes were too small ; we therefore put in a small race, fed directly from 

 the well, where the fish had more room and the water about three degrees 

 less than the hatching-boxes ; here they progressed very well. It is 

 estimated that over 30,000 fish were successfully hatched. 



On December 13, the fish having nearly lost the sac, the work of dis- 

 tribution commenced, and although it has been a most laborious work I 

 am happy to inform you that the casualties have been very small. The 

 fish have been placed in the headwaters of our principal rivers, which 

 are fed from streams rising among snowy ranges, the temperature being 

 from 50 to 62 degrees. They have been conveyed over very rough 

 country by bullock-drays and pack-horses, and in some cases the cans 

 had to be carried for miles over very rough hills. The fish have now 

 been all liberated, and we can, I think, confidently consider that the 

 experiment has been eminently successful. 



I am desired by the Hon. Mr. Ormond to convey to you and the offi- 

 cers of your department, and through you to the Government of the 

 United States, our very high appreciation and hearty thanks for the lib- 

 eral donation of ova and the trouble you have taken in an experiment 

 which there is every reason to believe will result in the stocking of our 

 rivers iu a few years with the king offish. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 



F. SUTTON, 

 Hon. Secretary Hawhes Bay Acclimatization Society. 



Hon. Spencer F. Baird, 



Cliicf Commissioner of .Fisheries, Washington, U. S. 



