year salmon are supposed to add about six or seven lbs. per annum to their 

 weight. Of course he (Mr. AUport) had had no opportunities of testinsf 

 the truth of these statements himself, hut judging from the rapid 

 growth of some fresh water fish which he had carefully observed in 

 limited waters, and from circumstances connected with the growth of 

 some of our indigenous sea fish, he had little doubt of their truth. For 

 instance, the kingfish which entered our rivers in summer, occasionally 

 deposit their spawn far up towards the fresh water ; on two separate 

 occasions in the autumn he (Mr. Allport) had seen in the mouth of a 

 small creek, near the river Jordan, a shoal of young kingfish from 4 to 8 

 inches in length, undoubtedly the produce of spawn laid that summer ; 

 with the first winter rains these fish disappear seawards, and in the 

 summer following none but full grown kingfish are found, weighing from 

 12 to 15 lbs. The fish of intermediate size are never seen, and (though 

 this is but negative evidence), the conviction was therefore strong in his 

 mind that the kingfish grew from the egg into 12 lbs. weight in a single 

 year. Amazing as this seems at first, it is not to be so greatly wondered 

 at when we remember the voracity of these fish, and that their power of 

 assimilating food is equal to their voracity. If one sea fish grows at this 

 rate, it is but reasonable to suppose that many others also increase rapidly, 

 and when we reflect that they are subjected to the attacks of innumerable 

 enemies, is it not clear that the very existence of some species must 

 depend in a great measure upon the rapidity of their gi'owth ? If it is 

 true that many of our sea fish become rapidly marketable after spawning 

 it is quite certain that very slight protection afforded to them on and 

 near to the spawning places would prevent the utter eradication which has 

 for a long time threatened many species. Unless something is done in 

 this direction we shall sooner or later have to deplore the loss of valuable 

 fish, which a little well directed care might now preserve for all time. 



Dr. Butler mentioned that certain blue books containing reports on the 

 salmon and other fisheries of the United Kingdom had recently been 

 received from England, and were now in the Parliamentary Library. 

 He thought it very desirable that all available information on the 

 subject should be placed at the disposal of the Society, and moved that 

 the Council be requested to apply to Grovernment for the books referred 

 to. 



Mr. Giblin seconded, and the motion was carried. 



A long and interesting conversation ensued as to the present state of 

 the fisheries of the island, and the want of protection being extended to 

 them. Several of the Fellows pointed out the want of some such system 

 of protection, especially for the oyster fisheries, as is observed elsewhere. 

 Mr. Davies moved, and Dr. Butler seconded, that a committee consisting 

 of ]\Iessrs. T. Giblin, M. Allport, and H. J. Buckland be appointed for 

 the purpose of enquiring genei-ally into the state of the fisheries of 

 Tasmania, including the oyster fisheries, such committee to bring up a 

 report in order that some action may be taken by the Society to move tho 

 Government or Parliament in the matter. The motion was agreed to, 

 and the usual vote of thanks having been accorded to the donors of pre- 

 sentations the meeting terminated. 



