Rivers of Scotland into Tasmania. 141 



Lieutenant Governor Sir William Denison, taking the same 

 view of the subject, has written to the Secretary of State to 

 allow of tanks, constructed for the purpose, and supplied 

 Avith Salmon fry or smolt, taken at the right season, being 

 placed on board some of the Convict vessels, and brought 

 out under the immediate care and supervision of the Surgeon - 

 Superintendent. 



" Invershin, Bonar Bridge, 

 2Zrd October, 1848. 



" Sib, 



" I have just received your note of the 20th instant, 

 regarding the introduction of Salmon into Australia. It would be a 

 grand undertaking, and perfectly practicable,if it could be accomplished 

 during the time between extracting the eggs and their hatching ; 

 but, unless that could be done, I fear the delicate state of the new- 

 hatched fish could not endure the fatigues of a long voyage. 



" I may mention that the period from the deposition of the egg (o 

 the bursting of the shell varies from 100 to 140 days, according to 

 the temperature of the water, and after being at liberty their food is 

 entirely derived from the conical bag attached to their abdomen ; 

 therefore, during that time I see no difficulty in their transfer: but 

 at the expiration of that, and when the provision-bag is consumed, 

 they are delicate until accustomed to the food they have then to 

 provide. 



" If after considering these matters you resolve to try the experi- 

 ment, I shall be most happy to give all the information I can 



* * * * 



" I remain, &c., 



" A. YOUNG. 



" James L. Burnett, Esq." 



" Invershin, Bonar Bridge, 

 2'drd December, 1848. 

 " Dear Sir, 



" I hope you have now got back to London, and are pre- 

 paring to carry Salmon Smolts to Australia. The more I think of the 

 subject, I am the more convinced of its practicability ; and as the 

 food of the salmon is not select or confined to one kind, it will be 



