210 FISHES 



under my own notice, the stock always being kept in one pond, without 

 the slightest sign of degeneration. 



Mr Spackman thereupon wrote to the Otago Society, and Mr Deans, 

 the curator, repHed from Clinton, 24th July, 1895 : 



The only salmon or sea-trout that this Society has ever had were brought 

 from Tasmania by Mr Chfford in 1870. The ova numbered about 140. 

 They were hatched at Opoho, and subsequently in the fry stage were 

 removed to a pond on the bank of the Shag River. Some years ago, 

 probably ten or twelve, the Government were getting out some ova from 

 Sir Jas. Maitland, and it was reported that they were salmon trout, but Sir 

 Jas. contradicted that and said that he was not aware of ever having sent 

 salmon-trout ova. 



This produced another strong letter from Mr Farr who stated (Aug. 

 2nd) that he attented a meeting of the Otago Council when a resolu- 

 tion was agreed to that a certain number of " Salmon Trout "fry should 

 be delivered by Deans to him at the railway station : 



I brought them without loss (to Christchurch), and delivered them at the 

 Society's Gardens. They were put into a small race, and were subsequently 

 transferred to a pond, kept as a distinct fish, and from them ova were taken 

 for some years previous to my removal from the ofSce of Secretary. 



Mr Farr then quotes from the Otago Society's reports, and also the 

 statements of Captain Hutton and Dr Hector already given, and then 

 from the reports of the Canterbury Society as follows : 



"In 1888 there were 580 salmon trout in the ponds." "In 1889 there 

 were nine boxes of Salmon trout in the fish house." " In 1890, 8000 salmon 

 trout were distributed." "In 1891, 9200 salmon trout distributed." "In 

 1892, 6000 distributed." " In 1894, 8000 sold and distributed." " During 

 the years mentioned Mr Spaclanan was a continuous member of the 

 Council, and I believe took part in the distribution of the young fry on 

 more than one occasion, as Salmon trout, without once raising the question 

 as to their species." 



This shrewd thrust at Mr Spackman did not, of course, affect the 

 question, and that gentleman again wrote to Mr Deans and drew 

 from him another letter in which he expressed his opinion that we 

 have no salmon or sea trout. It also brought Mr A. M. Johnson into 

 the fray, who concluded his letter by saying: "it appears, however, 

 we are all misled by mistakes about the identity of these fish." The 

 outcome of all the discussion was only to show that the fish which 

 the Canterbury Society had been keeping and distributing as salmon 

 trout were probably brown trout. It did not affect the facts that the 

 Otago, Southland and Canterbury Societies all imported salmon 

 trout ova from Tasmania in 1871 and 1873, ^^^^ mature trout were 

 taken in the coastal waters and identified in 1874 ^^^ 1881, and that 



