218 APPENDIX. 



for seven layers (and the Ova are at least twice the 

 size of the home fish). This is all enclosed in an 

 outside box about a foot deeper, in which the Ova 

 box is placed and covered with ice, the outside box 

 being double, with about three inches of sawdust 

 between. About a foot of ice is placed on the top, 

 and a thin bag containing sawdust on top of all. 

 I believe these are placed in the ship's ice-house, 

 the different lots being marked for each province, 

 the larger quantities coming here ; the success in 

 every case most astonishing. In Nelson they 

 turned out 45,000 from 50,000 Ova. I fear in this 

 case the want of impregnation may have arisen 

 from badness or from late milters, as I see there was 

 great difficulty in obtaining fish at so late a period. 

 Still it seems presumption in me to give an opinion 

 when the shipping was entrusted to a person with 

 the life-long experience of Mr Eamsbottom.* I 

 hope you will send this to Mr. Buckland, as I 

 have no time to rewrite it, or let him know that 

 most of his Ova were opaque. What are left — 

 perhaps five hundred — are about two-thirds impreg- 

 nated. His Ova were very small, while those sent 

 by you were large and very beautiful. His moss 

 was also again very sodden-looking ; but in neither 

 lot was there any of that mouldy, cobwebby appear- 

 ance, yours being as fresh as when packed. 



* Not the " shipping," but the collection and impregna- 

 tion. — A.N. 



