20 THE ACCLIMATISATION 



the ponds in Tasmania for the expected 

 salmon and this experiment together had 

 cost £1410, and though Mr. Youl had given 

 his time and had hesides contributed £200 

 in perfecting details of which the commis- 

 sioners perhaps would not have seen the 

 necessity, he was abused by the majority of 

 the colonists and the colonial press, and 

 accused of having wasted the public funds 

 on a crochet. It is almost incredible that 

 a press with the smallest claim to intelli- 

 gence could have talked the rubbish to be 

 found in its columns at that time, with one 

 or two exceptions. It is evident from the 

 report of the commissioners that some dis- 

 satisfaction was felt even among them, but 

 they did not point out what more might 

 have been done, or what error had been 

 made, and they failed signally to remark the 

 significance of the box of ova which had 

 outlasted the others. But here was the 

 germ of the principle of treatment which 

 ultimately led to success, and it made an 

 impression on its author, Mr. Youl, which 

 he was not likely to disregard ; but he had 



