16 HISTORY OF HOWIETOUN. 



The next consignment forwarded to New Zealand was sent by 

 the S.S. Aorangi under the care of Mr. Stoddart, and consisted 



the steamer, and lost no time in taking delivery. I have posted you a newspaper with his 

 report. It is just possible they may have been neglected at the most critical part of the 

 voyage, and I also fear the water soaking through the sawdust must have been injurious. The 

 only other thing I noticed was that the layers of moss had pressed tightly ou each other, 

 and most of the dead ova in the middle of the trays was squashed almost beyond recog- 

 nition. The best-preserved eggs were at the sides, otherwise, so far as I can judge, the 

 packing was admirable. I have got a few of the best eggs for you, and will send them next 

 mail. 



Deans has gone to Wellington to meet the S.S. British King with the next lot. She has 

 arrived, but I have not heard how the ova is. As I am going out of town to-morrow, I shall 

 wire him to write you. 



Should you be writing Mr. Ewen, would you kindly say that I shall write him by Brindisi ? 



We are exceedingly sorry all your trouble and kindness hitherto has been, so to speak, 

 lost, but trust the present shipment is all right. Meantime, with the best thanks of the 

 Society, I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, W. ARTHUR, Hon. Sec. 



Sir J. G. MAITLAND, Bart., Craigend. 



STIRLING, N.B., 12th April 1883. 



DEAR SIR, I beg to acknowledge yours of 2d April, enclosing copy of Mr. Arthur's 

 letter. I regret my absence from home has prevented my replying sooner. My consignment 

 of ova by British King consisted of about 25,000 Lochleven and 6000 or 7000 salmon ova 

 from the Teith, a river perfectly free from bull-trout. 



The eggs were stripped on the 16th December by Mr. Napier, Inspector to the Forth 

 District Board, and myself, and I hope they may have arrived safely. I put a test-box of 

 Lochleven eggs under Mr. Carrington's care at the Aquarium, stripped about the same time, 

 on the 2d February. The box was unpacked by Mr. Mann of Bishop-Stortford on (I think) 

 22d March, and the eggs hatched out remarkably well same day. Had the box been kept in 

 the ice-house I have no doubt they would have kept for another month, as this practically 

 narrows the success of our shipment to the temperature of the British King. Yours sincerely, 



JOHN A. EWEN, Esq. J. G. MAITLAND. 



OTAOO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY, 

 DUNEDIN, April 20th, 1883. 



DEAR SIR, I am very sorry to tell you that the Lochleven trout ova by the S.S. Nizam, 

 which reached Melbourne in February, were found to be all dead when our Manager went on 

 board there and looked at them, as already reported to you. The other salmon and Loch- 

 leven trout ova by the S.S. British King, which reached Wellington about March 20th, were 

 also found to be dead, and Capel's salmon ova were no better. As regards the packing, 

 yours was as nearly perfect as possible, in fact, it was a pleasure to examine the box and 

 trays. As regards the ice-tray, however, we found that a great deal of sawdust had been 

 put in it, which, with ice- water flowing through it, was very apt to neutralise the good effects 

 of the charring. In using sawdust above the trays, it should be enclosed in a calico pad, 

 which pad should rest on top of the ice. I am posting you a small package with 

 specimens of the eggs : Nizam's ova, phial No. 43 ; British King's, No. 44 ; Sir J. 

 Maitland's salmon ova, No. 45 ; Lochleven trout ova, ditto ; No. 46, C. C. Capel's salmon 

 ova. I shall be glad to hear that these reach you in safety. 



If you read the enclosed copy of register of temperature of ova boxes per the British King, 

 fortunately kept by the purser, and his letter in explanation, you will have no difficulty in 

 understanding the cause of failure, viz., too high a temperature of the melting ice. How this 

 should be the case in an ice-house I cannot very well see, unless it be the unfavourable 



