22 MR. MORTON ALLPORT ON THE (Jan. 13, 
moss, charcoal, &c. from the gravel-beds; and for some time after- 
wards the average death-rate was a mere fraction ; but it increased as 
the hatching approached. 
On the 4th of May, 1864, Mr. Ramsbottom had the high gratifi- 
cation of seeing the first Trout burst its egg in Tasmanian water, and 
on the following day the first Salmon. 
The ova continued to hatch until the 15th of June, 1864, by which 
time Mr. Ramsbottom (then appointed Superintendent at the ponds) 
estimated the number of young Salmon at about 3000, and of young 
Trout at about 50. There are two reasons for the vast difference 
between the estimated number of living ova and the number of 
‘hatched fish :—one, that a large percentage of the most healthy- 
looking ova turned out absolutely barren through defective impreg- 
nation; another, that a large number of deaths occur at the very 
point of hatching, the embryo dying without being able to free itself 
from the ege. Early in August the perforated zinc guards at the 
lower ends of the breeding-boxes were removed and the Salmon-fry 
permitted to drop down with the stream into the shallows at the 
upper end of the large Salmon-pond, whence they gradually found 
their way to the pond itself. 
By the end of August several of the Trout (all of which, up to 
this time, had remained in the trough in which they were hatched) 
died, and many others showed symptoms of disease. As no cause 
could be traced for this mortality, a gravelly rill was constructed at 
the upper end of the clearing-pond, and the entrances to and exits 
from the whole were guarded with perforated zinc. The Trout were 
then transferred to the rill; and it was ascertained that so many had 
hidden away under the gravel that, instead of 50, close upon 300 
young fish were counted. In the clearing-pond the young Trout 
continued to thrive, and grew amazingly, no deaths being observed. 
Amongst the Salmon the mortality was, up to this time, trifling, being 
confined to such few weak fish as were driven against the perforated 
zine guards and had not strength to fight against the stream. 
On the 4th of October, 1864, a leak was discovered, by which a 
large run of water found its way from the Salmon-pond into the 
Plenty ; and, fearing lest the Salmon should have been escaping, the 
Superintendent placed a box in such a manner as to intercept any 
fish passing through. One was soon found in the box, and an 
attempt was unsuccessfully made to remedy the leak. From the 7th 
to the 25th of October a trench was cut across the place where the 
leak occurred, and the defective place puddled, and the leak ultimately 
stopped; but during these nineteen days 240 fry were captured 
which had passed through, and it is certain that a very large number 
had previously reached the Plenty. 
Till March 1865 everything continued to progress in a satisfac- 
tory manner at the ponds; the young fish, which had been at first 
supplied with boiled liver powdered fine, were now almost entirely 
fed on gentles, and up to the 10th of March exhibited all the ap- 
pearance of vigorous health. From the 10th to the 15th of March no 
less than forty parr died; all of them appeared plump, well-grown 
