( 184 ) 



TASMANIA. 



(See Plan, p. 140.) 



THE following introductory remarks are taken from the special catalogue of the Tasmanian 

 Exhibits : 



" It was not at first intended that this catalogue should be anything more than a bare list 

 of the exhibits in the Tasmanian Court, entrusted to my care, but from the letters and 

 communications received from the accomplished Secretary to the Commission, Philipp 

 S. Seager, Esq., who has so carefully prepared the lists forwarded with the exhibits, I have 

 gleaned such information as is made use of in the form of remarks on those forms which 

 appear to me to be of special interest, deeming that this may not be unacceptable generally. 



" The fact of several species of Salmonidse having been so successfully introduced and 

 established in Tasmanian waters is no less gratifying to pisciculturists here in England than 

 it must be to the colonists themselves, who now enjoy good old English sport in fly-fishing. 

 The future value of these introductions and additions to the fish food of Tasmania and her 

 sister colonies cannot be too highly valued. 



" Experts are of opinion that many of the specimens now exhibited are crosses between 

 Sdlmo fario and S. trutta some appear to have a strain of Salmo salar, others are undoubtedly 

 S. trutta, and one or two may be said to be genuine specimens of S. fario. 



" At the Great International Exhibition of 1879-80, held in Sydney, the Tasmanian Com- 

 mission exhibited several very large specimens of Salmo salar weighing over 20 Ibs. ; and during 

 the Melbourne Exhibition of 1880-81 Salmonoids of from 2 Ibs. to 4 Ibs. each were retailed by 

 the fishmongers in Melbourne at 10s. and 21s. apiece. 



"While we cannot but admire the talent and energy expended on the intricate and 

 expensive machinery now employed in the American and English fish-hatcheries, it is pleasing 

 to observe the primitive methods and simple contrivances by which the Salrnonidse were at first 

 and so successfully introduced to Tasmania, The same success has attended the introduction 

 of the Carp, Tench, and Kiver Perch. Kecently I have heard of a very laudable proposal 

 (were it only needed) to introduce the Herring into Australian seas, but surely our southern 

 friends are aware that numerous shoals of the very finest Herrings (Clupea sp.) in the world 

 annually pass along our coasts, sometimes entering the mouths and estuaries of our rivers and 

 bays : and in addition Tasmania can boast of her Sprats and Anchovies, which occur also on 

 the southern shores of the mainland in such large shoals that they only require to be properly 

 fished to become a source of wealth to the colonies. The Tasmanian Grey Mullets (Mucjilidx) 

 are another family capable of affording, when cured, an important article of food either for 

 home consumption or export. 



"Among the fishes will be found some remarkable forms, extremely interesting in a 

 scientific point of view. The collection also contains all the principal food fishes, such as the 

 Baracoota Thyrsites atun, and the King-fish Thyrsites solandri. Several species allied to the 

 Trumpeter (Latris hecateia, Latris Forsteri, &c.), Chilodactylus Alporti, &c., and others. 

 Samples of the "Black Fish" and "Bream," the Cyttus, "Boar Fish," " Trevally," Perch, 

 Sprats, Herrings, Anchovies, and Grey Mullet, forming a well-chosen and representative 

 collection of the Tasmanian fish fauna. 



" Photographs and Coloured Paintings of the most important have been added, also Photo- 

 graphs of the City of Hobart and the environs thereof, and Forest and Native Scenery, with a 

 very interesting series representing the Derwent Kiver and its Salmon Ponds, &c. 



"Lieutenant Bedome has contributed a very complete collection of the Mollusca of 

 Tasmania, and among the fish-destroying Mammals may be seen a fine specimen of the Seal or 

 Sea-Leopard, Stenorhynchus leptonyx, Grey. 



"Among the fish-eating Birds are specimens- of the " Mutton Bird," Piiffinus brcvicaudus, 

 which is still found in immense numbers on some of the Islands in Bass's Straits, and supplies 

 a large quantity of oil annually. 



" Among the Crustacea are some large and interesting species of edible Crayfish, both from 

 the sea and fresh water, one species of which (Palinurus Edwardsii) already forms an article of 

 export to New South Wales. This species attains a length from one foot to eighteen inches, and 

 finds a ready sale at from Is. Gd. to 2s. Gd. each. The Tasmanian Freshwater species (Asta- 

 copsis Franldinii) exceeds that of its representative on the mainland, but unfortunately has not 

 found its way into the general market." 



