Aethur. — On Fish Culture in New Zealand. 185 



mistake among the salmon ova — these three species, at certain stages of 

 their growth, being very difficult of distinction from one another. This 

 much seems certain, that salmon in Tasmania are not an undoubted or 

 complete success as yet, but the feasibility of conveying j&sh eggs in ice 

 from England to Australia, through the tropics, has been abundantly 

 demonstrated. 

 Operations of the various Acclimatization Societies in New Zealand. 



Auckland Society. 



This society was formed by a few gentlemen in February, 1867. 

 Four acres of land, obtained from the Domain Board of the city of Auck- 

 land, were fenced in, the ground cleared drained and planted, a house 

 built for a curator, together with aviaries, and water was laid on. 



Prussian Carp, the first fish introduced by this society, were obtained to 

 the number of 114, whereof 12 were placed in the Takapuna Lake, during 

 1867. The advisability, or otherwise, of getting perch was also discussed 

 at this time, as it was reported to be as objectionable as pike. Other 

 societies have got it — whether it deserves its bad name or not — and I would 

 only remark that I do not think it a valuable fish, unless perhaps for 

 reservoirs. 



Brown Trout ova were first received from the Salmon Commissioners of 

 Tasmania in the year 1870, whereof 60 young fish hatched out, and were 

 put into Edgecumbe's Creek, Western Springs. In subsequent years a con- 

 siderable number more were distributed. (See appendix.) In 1875, Cali- 

 fornian Salmon ova were introduced by the Napier Society, but the ice failed 

 on these getting as far as Auckland, and part of the ova was accordingly 

 left there as a precaution. Of this lot 10,000 ova were put in the upper 

 waters of the Thames and Waikato rivers by Mr. Firth and nearly as 

 many more retained to be hatched at the society's ponds. Only a few of 

 the latter came to anything, and these (some hundreds) were distributed in 

 the Thames, Wairoa, and Tauranga districts. By subsequent shipments 

 many thousands more were liberated in the rivers. 



The Whitefish oysl (Coregonus albus), in 1877, were for the first time im- 

 ported from San Francisco. These proved almost a total loss ; only nine 

 fish hatched out, of which only two survived in the ponds. In 1880 better 

 success was got, the ova being put in Lakes Taupo, Eotorua, etc. 



The American Brook Ti'out ( Salmo fontinalis) were introduced this year, 

 (1877), in the form of 5000 ova. But of these 400 only came to life, 

 whereof half were put in a tributary of the Waikato, near Cambridge, and 

 the remaining 200 into the top waters of the Kaukapakapa stream, Kaipara 

 district. 



