TELEOSTEI 245 



these were placed in Lake Taupe, but small lots were distributed 

 to Lakes Okataina, Titikapu and Tarawera, and to the Awahou Basin 

 discharging into Lake Rotorua. About 50,000 were placed in the 

 hatching-boxes in the Domain, but failed to hatch out. 



In 1880 another shipment of 1,000,000 ova was made by the 

 Government, and distributed to various societies. 



The Auckland Society received 50,000 ova. "The fish hatched 

 out very well indeed, but the temperature being 65 F., they died 

 day by day, and in a few days all but two had died." 



The Napier Society also received 50,000 ova on iQth January. The 

 hatching commenced the same day, and about 200 were hatched out, 

 but by 3Oth January all were dead but 12. 



The Nelson Society received 250,000 ova, but they were kept 

 too long in Auckland before being forwarded, and reached their 

 destination in a bad and stinking condition, many of them apparently 

 already hatched out and dead. Only about 40 or 50 fish hatched 

 out alive, and "with the exception of some eight or ten, these young 

 fish quickly died off; those that were alive were put into one of the 

 ponds, where they appeared to thrive." The Secretary adds : " I regret 

 to say they suddenly disappeared. I do not think they died, as they 

 were constantly looked after; and they were large enough to be seen 

 in the pond, as the water was quite clear." 



The Christchurch lot amounted to 300,000. Hatching commenced 

 on 2Oth January, and the whole of the young fish estimated at 

 50,000 were hatched out by the 29th. 



Fungoid disease, however, made its appearance among them, although 

 every precaution was taken to insure success, and daily the numbers were 

 rapidly diminishing. On 24th Feb. the whole of the fish numbering about 

 25,000 were liberated in Lake Coleridge. After watching them for a few 

 seconds we noticed that they took a spiral course to the depth of about 

 eight inches, then dived suddenly downwards and were lost to sight in the 

 deep azure water. 



They were liberated from a boat at a distance of about half a mile 

 from the shore. " The temperature of the water in the lake was taken, 

 and to our astonishment was found to be 59 at a depth of fifty feet, 

 and 60 at the surface." 



Mr A. M. Johnson of Opawa received two boxes (100,000 ova?), 

 from one of which only 28 young fish were obtained, and from 

 the other many thousands hatched out. This was on 29th January. 

 On 4th May Mr Johnson writes to the Colonial Secretary stating 

 that 



after seven weeks of the time of hatching, the numbers continued to visibly 

 diminish daily, in spite of every care and precaution, till the total number 



