Distribution of the Salmon Fry . 217 



placed the whole department at my service in 

 the most liberal manner. As it is necessary 

 in the transit of salmon that no delay should 

 occur, I asked for a special train to run during 

 the night, and to go over the contractors' 

 lines as far as practicable. 



" I found, on inquiring of Mr. Higinbotham, 

 the engineer to the Eailway Department, who 

 kindly offered to assist me, that only four 

 miles of a gap was left in the whole line from 

 Oakleigh to Sale, the rails being laid all the 

 rest of the way. I then applied to the con- 

 tractors, asking for permission to run a 

 Government train over their uncompleted 

 lines, to convey the salmon fry, which request 

 they at once and most readily granted. They 

 also gave their personal attendance during the 

 night, and furnished men to assist in carrying 

 the cans, and also riding-horses where re- 

 quired. The Eailway Department, not having 

 a spare engine to do the work, asked the con- 

 tractors for the use of their engine on hire, 

 which was most readily granted ; and Messrs. 

 Fishbourne and Morton and Messrs. Noonan, 

 with great generosity, not only carried the 

 salmon and a large party over their own line, 



