Hi PROCEEDINGS, SEPTEMBER, 



and valuable data were elicited. Iq this direction, Mr. Wilmot, the 

 Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Fisheries, bore testimony to the 

 fact that at the hatching stations in Canada they formerly lost a very 

 large number of the salmon manipulated through the fungus. " Round 

 the tail, where the men had caught the fish, this fungoid growth 

 appeared and spread until the fish was killed." Also, in handling the 

 salmon " three or four finger marks might be left across the fish's back j 

 a few days after they invariably found three or four stripes of fungoid 

 growth, and the fish invariably died." In order to combat the mortality 

 from this cause, india-rubber gloves were supplied to the hatcheries for 

 the manipulation of the fish and have been used ever since with gratify- 

 ing results, it being found that the salmon were much less liable to 

 injury and to the attacks of the fungus when so treated. Similar simple 

 mechanical appliances might undoubtedly be profitably introduced at the 

 hatchery on the River Plenty for the future handling of the surviving 

 fish. Mr. Saville-Kent proceeded to explain that, in his opinion, the 

 failure to acclimatise the true salmon in Tasmanian waters was 

 chiefly due to the considerably higher temperature of the 

 sea on this coast as compared with that of the British 

 seas. In conclusion, be remarked that every resource at the 

 command of human skill had apparently been brought to bear upon 

 the naturalisation of the salmon in Tasmania, and n© more fitting opportu- 

 nity than the present could be selected for placing on record the indebted- 

 nessof the colony to that body of gentlemen, the late Salmon Commissioners 

 who have so perseveringly devoted their time and best energies for 

 many years to these acclimatisation operations. And if, owing to an 

 inflexible law of nature, this one species has proved intractable, they 

 will have the satisfaction of knowing that through their accomplished 

 esteiblis-hment in Tasmania of many varieties of the allied and more 

 plastic forms of Salmo trutta and Salmo fario, they have conferred oii 

 the community at large, if not an equal, yet a very substantial benefit. 



Sir Lambekt Dobson said he had never seen anything at all approach- 

 ing a salmon since he had come from the Old Country. He had heard 

 Sir Frederick Weld say that he caught an 81b. salmon, but the question 

 was whether it was a true salmon. There was no doubt that the ova 

 sent out from Home was sent by gentlemen who were good judges, and 

 it was genuine salmon ova. Therefore they should assume beyond all 

 possibility of doubt that the ova was really salmon ova. These had 

 failed. There was something yet to be learned, and he did not think 

 they should lose sight of the fact that the English herring, crab, and 

 lobster might be introduced. 



His Excellency said he had listened with very great pleasure indeed 

 to this paper and discussion. This was a subject in which he took a 

 very great interest, merely as a fisherman. He had often before he 

 came here heard of the efforts made by Tasmania to acclimatise salmon. 

 He thought it stood to reason that the ova sent out here must have 

 been proper ova, but it was a pity that so few specimens were 

 afloat. There appeared to have been only one real salmon ever caught,, 

 and if they were really sure that there was one 101b. salmon caught, 

 why should they not catch more ? He thought it would be a great 

 pity and misfortune if it was to be considered now that after the great 

 many years they had tried this should turn out a failure. He expressed 

 satisfaction at seeing so many ladies present, taking an interest in the 

 proceedings of the Society, which was very gratifying. (Hear, hear). 



In the absence of the author the Secretaky (Mr. A. Morton) 

 read a paper entitled " A First List of the Birds of Maria Island," by 

 Col. W. V. Legge. In his paper the author pointed out that of late years 

 much has been added to our knowledge of the local distribution of birds 

 in Europe and Asia, by the publication of "Lists of Birds" in such, 



