INTRODUCTORY. 17 



of two boxes, which were a partial success. 1 This consignment 

 threw great light upon the increased vitality of the ova of older 

 spawners, and also for ever solved the problem of transporting ova 

 to the antipodes, as the eggs had actually been carried on deck in 

 a temporary cooling-box lined with felt. 



The consignment also seems to have turned out much better 

 than was at first anticipated, as, on the 23d May 1884, 2 1700 

 young fish were doing splendidly at Dunedin, and about 1000 

 at Wellington. The next consignment to the Otago Associa- 

 tion was sent December 3, 1884, and consisted of brown trout 



position of the house on deck. I wonder how the refrigerating chamber would suit for the 

 boxes, and the ice regularly put in boxes. 



We can hardly expect you to trouble any more about sending ova, trout in any case. We 

 are returning you the boxes, as they may be useful, and I must beg to thank you very 

 heartily for doing so much for us. Please let Mr. Ewen know what expense you have been 

 at, and we will gladly refund you. Yours faithfully, W. ARTHUR, Hon. Secy. 



Sir J. G. MAITLAND, Bart., Howietoun Fishery. 



OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. 



DUNEDIN, April 25th, 1884. 



DEAR SIR, . . . You will be glad to hear that the Lochleven trout sent out by 

 Aorangi are thriving exceedingly well. Yours faithfully, W. ARTHUR, Hon. 8ecy. 



Sir J. G. MAITLAND, Bart., of Sauchie, etc. 



OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY, 

 DUNEDIN, May 23d, 1884. 



DEAR SIR, Your favour of 18th March has been received, and I am glad to hear that 

 there can be no doubt about the ova being those of the Lochleven trout. As to which box 

 had the most successful eggs, I have seen both our Manager and Mr. Stoddart. The latter 

 unpacked the boxes at Wellington, and repacked all the good ova he could find, which, he 

 says, were all the lanjest ova. Some of these were left at Wellington, and hatched out well, 

 about 1000 in all, young alevins. The remainder of these large good eggs, along with a few 

 smaller and doubtful-looking ones, were replaced into Box 45, and brought on here. The 

 large eggs all hatched out (about 1700), and the young fish are doing splendidly, but the 

 small light-coloured ones perished, excepting a very few which I believe hatched, but no 

 more. This is all that our Manager, Deans, says : " The number of the box here is 45. It 

 contained four trays, two of which contained eggs evidently much further advanced than the 

 other, and which turned out best. The other two trays contained eggs, I think, of a smaller 

 size, and almost all bad. The few transparent eggs that were to be found did not show the 

 eyes of the young fish." 



I should have mentioned that Stoddart thinks the large and good eggs were in No. 45, 

 but he is not quite certain. 



As we have got over 1000 young sea-trout of your late Government shipment from the 

 Wallacetown Ponds, I should be glad of any information as to what trays contained the 

 common fario eggs, and what those of the graylings, as there was nothing on the trays 

 themselves to determine this. Already I hear doubt expressed as to the young being sea- 

 trout or not. Of course I have seen those we got ; they are long, and thinner than the/arj'o 

 of same age, and, unfortunately, a good many have died since we got them. Yours faithfully, 

 Sir J. G. MAITLAND, Bart., Stirling. W. ARTHUR, Hon. Secy. 



B 



