(HAP. in.] GKOWTH OF THE FISH. 123 



periment with much zeal. Very great anxiety was evinced by 

 those interested for the proper hatching out of the eggs, and 

 the mortality which was soon visible among the ova it was 

 at one time at the rate of one hundred each day was viewed 

 with great alarm. The first eggs were hatched in the ponds 

 of Tasmania. Of the Victoria consignment, the first egg was 

 hatched at an ice company's establishment on the 7th of May, 

 twenty-two days after the arrival of the ship. In a letter, 

 dated llth May 1864, Dr. Officer communicates many inter- 

 esting details of the experiment, as the following extract will 

 show : " By our last out-going mail I reported the hatching 

 of the first trout and the first salmon on May 4 and 5. We have 

 now forty trout and nine salmon, but of the latter two are de- 

 formed, and, therefore, not likely to survive long. The first- 

 born salmon is now nine days old, and is quite healthy and 

 visibly grown. The mortality among the ova, which had been 

 about one hundred per diern for some days, has very much de- 

 creased again, and for the last two days has been quite trifling. 

 The weather and temperature of the water have continued 

 favourable. The temperature of the Plenty and ponds has not 

 exceeded 49 degrees, nor descended below 46 degrees. This 

 equality is of course highly conducive to the health and pro- 

 gress of our charge. We expected to have seen more salmon by 

 this time, but our impatience has outrun probability and the 

 teachings of experience. The authorities tell us that a few 

 always precede the great body of fish by a good many days, 

 and are not usually so vigorous as those that are hatched at a 

 later period. As to the trout we may, I think, regard them 

 as safe. Only one out of the whole number hatched has 

 died. As I looked at their box this afternoon, I observed 

 several in the act of escaping from the shell. Mr. Eamsbot- 

 tom's attentions are indefatigable, and, I believe, nothing has 

 been neglected that could insure success." 



The process of hatching was much more protracted than 



