Tasmania. 185 



Tasmania exhibits a fine collection of Shells, and specimens in alcohol of the principal 

 Food Fishes. Models of their Fishing Boats, Nets, and Fish-destroying Birds, with Seals and 

 other animals peculiar to the country ; also photographs and coloured paintings of Fishes 

 peculiar to the coast.* 



The following particulars relative to the salmon fishing in this colony have been collated 

 from the Keports of the Tasmanian Salmon Commissioners for the years 1879 and 1880. 



The Salmonidx, both migratory and non- migratory, continue to multiply so rapidly that, 

 if their increase be not checked by the occurrence of some such epidemic as that which has 

 recently proved so fatal in certain British rivers, the streams in Tasmania must, in the course 

 of a very few years, be thoroughly stocked. 



Most of the streams on the north, south, and east coasts are already fairly stocked with 

 the Salmo fario, and others contain the Salmo trutta ; but, at present, the Derwent and its 

 tributaries are the only rivers in Tasmania in which the true Salmon is believed to be present. 

 The Commissioners will endeavour to remedy this partial distribution of the Salmo salar at 

 the earliest opportunity. 



For the last four years the Commissioners have had collected from the spawning beds in 

 the Plenty certain large ova, of a pink colour, much resembling those of the Salmo salar 

 originally received from England, some of which have been sent to the diiferent Colonies, and 

 some have been placed in several of our own rivers. We think it more than probable that 

 these Ova will prove to be of the Salmo salar ; but, if any should prove to be Salmo trutta, it 

 is satisfactory to know that, in general estimation, these rank as little, if at all, inferior to the 

 former. 



In October, 1879, as has been the case about that period for the last five years, Smolts, 

 dressed in their beautiful bright migratory scales, came down the water-race which supplies 

 the ponds, evidently making their way to the sea. Their numbers, however, on the last 

 occasion were far greater than in any previous year, in fact they came down in millions ; and 

 the rush continued for at least a fortnight. Many of them, notwithstanding the efforts of the 

 Assistant to guide them into the Plenty, found their way into the |ponds; but their restlessness 

 and anxiety to get to sea were such that they always immediately escaped when an oppor- 

 tunity was afforded them. The Trout, on the contrary, which happened to be present, never 

 showed any anxiety to leave the ponds. 



In October, 1880, as in former years, Smolts again made their appearance in the Eiver 

 Plenty on their way to sea ; but in consequence of the diversion of the river by flood, the 

 numbers which entered the shoots leading to the ponds were less than on former occasions. 

 The Commissioners have caused some of these fish to be retained in a special pond, in the 

 hope that they will deposit ova, and thus enable their progeny to be placed in other rivers of 

 the Colony. Should the experiment prove successful there will be no difficulty in rapidly 

 stocking other rivers with migratory salmonoids. 



It has been observed when captured migratory species are introduced into our breeding 

 ponds and permanently retained there, that at first, during the migratory season, they make 

 considerable effort to escape from their confinement. It has also been noticed that although 

 they continue to present a healthy outward appearance, yet if the forced imprisonment is 

 prolonged the generative organs are seriously affected, for they invariably become perfectly 

 sterile. These observations may be of much interest to ichthyologists and to others interested 

 in the natural history of introduced fishes. 



Several captures of Salmon, of from 4 to 7 Ibs. in weight, have been made by fishermen 

 with nets ; and a fine specimen, upwards of 7 Ibs., was taken in Storm Bay, at a locality about 

 twenty miles seaward of the mouth of the parent river, the Derwent. Fish (Salmonidae\ as 

 to the exact variety of which various opinions have been entertained, of fully 20 Ibs., have 

 been caught with rod and line. In addition to these, a fine specimen of Salmo fario, of 28 lbs. c 

 was found dead in the Huon Kiver. 



The Commissioners still consider it uuadvisable to recommend any alteration in the 

 existing restrictions as to netting in the Derwent, not only for the protection of the Salmonidev 



* Catalogues of the Shells may b obtained in the Court 



ANDERSON, ABBOTT, AND ANDERSON'S 



FISHING TROUSERS 



Are unequalled for Quality, Finish and Wear. 



37, QUEEN VICTORIA ST., LONDON, B.C. 



