226 APPENDIX. 



Large trout, reaching a weight of upwards of 

 16 lbs., have been caught by rod and line from 

 time to time — one of that weight more than three 

 years ago. In some of the tributaries of the 

 Derwent the Trout has afforded good sport, and 

 been so easily caught as to necessitate the closing 

 of several of them for a season in order to prevent 

 their further depopulation. 



Many thousand ova and fry of the Trout have 

 continued to be annually produced in the Ponds, 

 and distributed among the rivers of this and some 

 of the neighbouring colonies. Ova and young fish 

 from the Salmon Trout have also been reared, in 

 fewer numbers, from the small supply of the fish of 

 that species which were originally detained in the 

 Ponds or their descendants. 



It has been found, however, for the last two 

 seasons that an increasiug proportion of the ova of 

 the last named fish have proved infertile. 



The cause of this infertility is probably due to 

 the want of that food which is only to be found in 

 the sea, or want of the annual change to salt 

 water ; and, if it should continue, may be remedied 

 by establishing a fresh family of breeding fish by 

 ova brought from the Derwent. 



The Commissioners think that they have reason 

 to congratulate the Colony on the signal success of 

 the great experiment of which they have had the 



