62 



similar to that which attacks the Salmo salar of Scotch and 

 English Rivers, as described by Professor Huxley. They 

 are caught chiefly with rod and line, — a fly-hook baited with 

 a " gentle" seems to be the mode of capture in greatest 

 favour among sportsmen. 



Retropinna Hic/iardsom, the Smelt of New Zealand, 

 is also found in the various estuaries of Tasmania at certain 

 periods of the year. It scarcely exceeds 3 to 4 inches long, 

 and is usually found in myriads in the shrimp-nets, together 

 with the silver-belly Sand-smelt (Atherma, .sp.J, the Jolly- 

 tail (Galaxias attenuatus), and the Anchovy. The Jolly- 

 tails, Sand-smelts, and Smelts are frequently termed 

 * Whitebait,' and are esteemed a great delicacy for the table. 

 In the Tamar all these little fishes may be caught in vast 

 numbers. Dr. Giinther formerly supposed that It. Ricfiard- 

 sojii was confined to New Zealand, but it is now known to 

 be common to Australia and Tasmania also. 



The various species of Native Trout (Galaxias) are 

 more numerous, and are foimd more widely spread than 

 any other freshwater fish in Tasmania. G. aitratuSf the 

 Golden Lake Trout, is found at an altitude of nearly 

 4000 feet, while G. attenuatus is generally found at the 

 lower levels, and are most abundant not far away from the 

 influence of brackish water, which they freely enter. G. 

 truttaceuSy the Spotted Trout, is found in the inland streams ; 

 a variety ascends the mountain rivulets, and hence it is 

 termed the Mountain Trout. They are all small fishes, 

 with rounded scaleless bodies and flattened heads. The 

 Golden Lake Trout (G.am^atus) isthe largest. Specimens 

 of this fish, which is most closely allied to G. truttaceusy 

 are in my possession measuring 11 inches long. 



The Lamprey, though abundant in some rivers, seems 

 not to be in favour in the market, as they are rarely seen 

 there. 



Introduced Fishes successfully acclimatized in 

 Tasmanian Waters. 



It is no small credit to Tasmania that she is the first 

 Colony in the Antipodes which has succeeded in the remark- 

 able achievement of stocking her waters with European 

 fishes, from eggs hatched in her establishment at New 

 Norfolk, on the Plenty, which were originally taken from 

 the parent fish and artificially impregnated in England, 

 The history of the Salmon experiment of Tasmania is now 



