998 report of commissioner of fish and fisheries. 



Colonial Museum of New Zealand, 



Wellington, April 4, 1877. 

 Dear Professor Baird : I am sorry to inform you that the exper- 

 iments with the whitefish ova have proved a failure for the reasons 

 stated in the inclosed correspondence. 



You will notice that there has been a doubt expressed if they were the 

 ova of the whitefish, and I will be glad if you can conveniently make 

 some inquiry and report to me for the satisfaction of the government. 



From the account given by Mr. Farr they appear certainly to have 

 been of small size for any species of Coregonus. The salmon are going 

 to thrive well, I believe, and will amply repay the trouble you took in 

 procuring them for us. The success is a great contrast to the large ex- 

 penditure and small results in introducing the British salmon to this 

 hemisphere. 



I remain, dear Professor Baird, yours faithfully, 



JAMES nECTOR. 

 Professor Baird, 



Chairman of United iStates Fishery Commission, Washington. 



[Marginal note. — Copies of Mr. Howard's letter and Mr. Farr's let- 

 ter and Dr. Hector's reply, also copy of report of society meeting at 

 Christ church, and a copy of Dr. Hector's memoranda on salmon and 

 whitefish printed.] 



CHRIST CHURCH ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY. 



An adjourned meeting of this society was held yesterday afternoon at 

 the gardens. Present : Hon. J. T. Peacock, chairman ; Drs. Nedwill, 

 Powell, Messrs. Hill, Boys, Carrick, Jameson; Hon. Treasurer Farr; 

 Hon. Secretary Johnstone; Fereday, Haumer, and Blackeston. 



The secretary said since last meeeting he had received £20 from the 

 Auckland society, balance of the £70 refund on account of the Califor- 

 nia salmon ova. 



A telegram was read from Dr. Hector, requesting that the majority of 

 the whitefish might be sent to Lake Coleridge as soon as they were fit 

 for carriage ; a few to be kept by the society for experimental purposes. 



The curator, who was present, said that only about a half dozen of 

 the fish were now alive. He had put some muslin in the boxes in order 

 to retain the food ; this had caused the boxes to overflow, and the fish 

 had been thrown onto the floor of the breeding-house. A very general 

 regret was expressed that such a mishap should have occurred, which 

 had all the appearance of having resulted f^m very great carelessness. 

 The secretary was instructed to telegraph the fact to Dr. Hector. 



In reply to Mr. Boys, the secretary said about 200 of t])ese fish had 

 been hatched out. 



