APPENDIX. 195 



at Hobart Town, the whole of the Ova had been 

 safely deposited in the hatching boxes at the Ponds. 



As soon as the first boxes reached their destina- 

 tion, the process of unpacking was commenced by 

 Mr. Eamsbottom, assisted by or in presence of 

 several of the Commissioners and many other 

 anxious spectators. 



The first two packages opened presented a very 

 discouraging aspect. In these nearly all the Ova 

 ' had perished. 



As the work, proceeded, however, better indica- 

 tions appeared, and when all the boxes had been 

 unpacked the general conclusion was that nearly 

 half, and certainly not less than 40 per cent., of 

 the Ova were to all appearance alive. 



Although these results were highly encouraging, 

 and gave promise of a large degree of success, the 

 Commissioners and their Superintendent were fully 

 aware that the number of fish might fall far short 

 of the number of Ova that reached their hands in 

 an apparently sound condition. 



The appearance of the Ova that had perished 

 indicated that by far the largest portion of the 

 mortality had taken place within a very recent 

 period, and led to the conclusion that they had been 

 dying in large and daily increasing numbers for a 

 week or two before their arrival at the Ponds. 



Nor was it to be expected that this mortality 



