78 Salmon at the Antipodes. 



" Salmon-egg collecting is one of the most 

 difficult — and, I may say, dangerous —tasks 

 that fall to my lot ; nevertheless I have gone 

 at it once more. The Government authorities 

 of New Zealand having expressed by tele- 

 gram to Sir Julius Vogel, agent-general in 

 London, their desire to have a further con- 

 signment of salmon ova sent them this spawn- 

 ing season, I told Sir Julius that I would do 

 my best for them, though it was late — very 

 late— this year to hope for much success. 



" The ship chosen to take the eggs is the 

 Cliimborazo, a big steamer, sailing from Lon- 

 don direct to Melbourne, the eggs to be 

 there transhipped to New Zealand. The 

 Cliimborazo is to leave the port of London 

 on January 21. I pass over for the present 

 the various arrangements made by my friend 

 Mr. Youl for packing the eggs in the ice, and 

 proceed to relate my adventures since last 

 Monday. 



" In the collection of salmon eggs, as in every 

 other matter, the great rule is to ' take for 

 granted you will find nothing anywhere,' 

 therefore I go fully prepared for all eventuali- 

 ties. It is a difficult task, and requires the 



