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Art. VII. — On the Murray River Cod, with particulars of 

 Experiments instituted for introducing this Fish into the 

 River Yarra-Yarra. By Edward Wilson, Esq. 



[Read before the Institute 8th April, 1857.] 



Mr. President and Gentlemen, — It is with some diffi- 

 dence that I present myself before the members of the 

 Philosophical Institute, to read a short paper descriptive of a 

 little experiment which I have lately been making for the 

 introduction of the fish known as the Cod-perch of the 

 Murray into the river Yarra. I am no naturalist, nor scien- 

 tific in any other way; my pursuits having long lain in very 

 different directions. These remarks, then, must be considered 

 as a mere popularly treated sketch of a scheme which I have 

 good hopes has been tolerably successful, and which, if suc- 

 cessful, will be thought to contain, I trust, some elements of 

 interest. 



For a long time I have been impressed with an idea of the 

 singular disproportion between the endless variety and lavish 

 profusion of the natural productions of the earth, and their 

 unequal and even eccentric distribution. In a newly settled 

 country like this, the consideration of this subject is particu- 

 larly important. Our progress in equalizing the distribution 

 of natural productions has not been altogether unsatisfactory, 

 but I think that our comparative success ought rather to 

 have the effect of urging us to new and more vigorous endea- 

 vours, than of leading us to become contented with what has 

 been already done. How few of the present productions of 

 the Colony, upon which we are mainly dependent for our 

 comfort and enjoyment, were placed here naturally, and 

 without the special interposition of man ! And yet how 

 astonishingly successful their introduction has been ! How 

 contracted the list of indigenous productions ! How large 

 the catalogue of those already at our service ! In glancing 

 down the list it is worth while to test their respective useful- 

 ness by a constant consideration of the question, how far we 

 should now be inclined to part with any one of them. "We 

 think little of them, probably, now we have them. Let us 

 consider how we should get on without them. The sheep, 

 for instance, is not indigenous ; and yet what would be the 

 effect upon this colony of the entire annihilation of the 

 sheep ? The ox is not indigenous, yet how should we recon- 



