124 PERCENTAGE OF FISH HATCHED. [CHAP. in. 



was anticipated ; it was not till the 8th of June that the last 

 of the eggs gave forth its little tenant. An account of the 

 daily hatching was kept up till the time that 1000 of the 

 eggs had arrived at maturity, but after that the hatching 

 went on with such rapidity as to render it impossible to keep 

 a correct record. Up to the 16th of June the trout had not 

 been artificially fed, but for all that they looked healthy and 

 grew fat. Mr. Eamsbottom computed that he had at least 

 3000 healthy salmon, rather a small percentage certainly to 

 obtain out of the 30,000 eggs, but quite sufficient to solve the 

 grand problem of whether or not it were possible to introduce 

 the British salmon into Australian waters. The latest accounts 

 tell us that the young parr are doing well, though they are 

 not growing so fast as the trout.* The further progress of the 

 experiment will be watched with great anxiety both at home 

 and abroad. The Tasmanian Legislature have voted a further 

 sum of 800 for the purpose of introducing another batch of 

 ova ; this sum will be augmented by 400 voted by the 

 Victorian Acclimatisation Society ; so that no means will be 

 left untried to bring to a successful conclusion this great 

 experiment the ultimate result of which, I have no doubt, 

 will be, that the salmon will become as valuable a fish in the 

 waters of the great Australian Continent as it is in the waters 

 of our own islands. 



The naturalisation of fish, to which a brief reference has 

 already been made, is a subject that is not very well under- 



* Since the above was written intelligence has been received in 

 England of the loss, by escape into the river (which would be no loss), 

 or the death, or more truly "mysterious disappearance" of a large number 

 of the fry only five hundred being left in the pond. These have been 

 allowed to make their escape into the river, and we may yet hope to 

 hear of their safety and welfare. I hope those interested will lose 

 no time, now that they know the way to success, in sending out another 

 batch of eggs, so as to ensure the sending into the river of a few thousand 

 young fish. 



