198 Transactions.— Zoology. 
good salmon ova into the hatching boxes, and the sea troutova. The result 
of this experiment is now a matter of history. About 1,500 were reared as 
far as the smolt stage (specimens of these may now be seen in the Otago 
Museum), when they became greatly reduced in numbers by escaping into 
the Waiwera, and by the depredations of shags. At the last the remainder, 
only 250 in number, were turned out into the river Waiwera by Mr. Dawbin 
in 1869, and none have ever been seen again, while it is almost certain now 
that none ever will. Thus ended miserably that large venture in the aceli- 
matizing of the English salmon; and in reviewing the operations, at this 
distance of time, I am of the same opinion as then, that the Government 
acted very unwisely in the selection of a tributary of the Molyneux, polluted 
as the latter was and is by “tailings” from the gold diggings, as the best 
stream into which to put the young of the salmon. The Aparima, or even 
the Wyndham, would have been far more likely rivers in which success might 
have been reckoned on. 
Subsequent shipments from England by steamers via Melbourne, were 
more successful, (although one or two were wholly failures). The ova in 
these former cases were entrusted to Mr. Howard, of the Wallacetown 
Salmon Ponds, near Invercargill, an enthusiast, and a well informed man 
in fish culture, and this important trust was not misplaced. Of the 
“ Oberon” shipment, 96 young English salmon smolts were put into the 
Aparima, or a pond adjoining it, in 1874. In 1876, of the “ Durham” 
shipment, 1,400 were liberated in the same river; and of that by the 
‘« Chimborazo,” 2,500 were growing in the boxes in June, 1878, these being 
afterwards, I believe, turned out in the same river. The first of the above 
ova were got from the rivers Severn, Tweed, Tyne, Ribble and Hodder, the 
second from the Ribble, Hodder, Lune, Severn, and Dart, and the last from 
the Tyne, Avon, and Lune. Iam indebted to Mr. Howard for these par- 
ticulars. From the printed report of the ‘‘ Durham” lot, it would appear 
that the ova packed in Sphagnum moss by Mr. Buckland, arrived in far 
better condition than those sent in common moss, and which were packed 
by Mr. Youl. The latter was covered with mould, while the former moss 
was found to be perfectly clean and free from fungoid growths. For two 
years past I have occasionally received information from Riverton residents 
that young salmon had been seen in the estuary of the Aparima. An 
lately, Mr. Ellis, of Merrivale, made particular enquiries, and assured me 
there could be no doubt of the fact, for he knew a party who had bought 
from fishermen young salmon and eaten them! On the other hand Mr. 
Howard went specially to Riverton to try and settle the question, and he 
has kindly written to me that as yet there is in his opinion no proof of the 
return of salmon to the above river. Under these circumstances, it must 
