476 Transactions. —Miscellaneous. 
caught by Mr. Grieve. The yearly increase in weight of these, suppos- 
ing them to be 1869 fish, will be, deducting half a pound for 1868:— 
1:22, 1:41, 0:71, 0:71, and 1:66 lbs. respectively. This is a decrease in the 
rate of growth for each of these rivers, except the Upper Taieri, since 1878, 
while the actual weight of the fish under consideration has increased, 
excepting in that of the largest from the Shag River. At the same time 1 
think these rates too low, as the most of the trout in all likelihood were not 
of those turned out in 1869. Then the mean or average weight of all the 
heaviest trout for the period 1878 to 1883 I find to be as follows :—Shag 
River, 11:4 lbs.; Leith, 14-6 lbs. ; Lee, 5'6 lbs.; Deep Stream, 61bs.; and 
Upper Taieri (one fish), 20 lbs. Now, the evidence of each of the three 
preceding results is as a whole, that the weight of the largest trout has 
increased, while I may add their numbers have undoubtedly decreased in 
these rivers. This agrees uomini with the belief of anglers who have 
fished the same waters. 
The average weight of all trout taken per day together with their num- 
bers, in the Lee and Deep Streams, may now be examined. This, as before 
explained, I can only give from the angling diary of one fisher, as those of - 
others are very incomplete. From 1875 to 1888, then, the average number 
and weight of all trout caught per day for the two periods or divisions 
was :— 
Lee Stream. Deep Stream. 
1875 to 1878, trout per day, 2°67; average | Trout per day, 3°66; average weight, 1:20 
weight, 1:25 lbs. lbs. 
1878 to 1883, trout per day, 1:50; average | Trout per day, 2:56; average weight, 1:86 
weight, 1:52 lbs. lbs. 
This example is so far confirmatory of above evidence, and shows that 
the stock of trout in these two streams has certainly become fewer in 
number, but heavier in average weight, during the latter period. 
It will be remarked by anyone examining carefully the weights of trout 
I have given, that the heaviest were taken in the Shag River, Water of 
Leith, and Upper Taieri River. The two former of these waters differ 
greatly from one another in the geological character of their channels, and 
also from the latter river; but they also appear to possess a more abundant 
and varied supply of food than it; nevertheless, the heaviest fish have been 
both seen and caught in the Upper Taieri River, which raises a curious 
question as to the food-supply of that river. The upper waters, by a rapid 
descent to the Serpentine Flat, drain the slopes of the Rock and Pillar and 
Lammerlaw Mountains. Trap and gneiss may be taken as the rock forma- 
tion of these ranges, their flat tops being also distinguished by immense bogs 
and morasses. The Serpentine Flat is about 10 miles long, with a heavy 
