SALMON FISHERY AT DOOHULLA. 311 



attention to a little mistake ttere is in reference to the 

 iime, &c. I induced the present proprietors of the DoohuUa 

 fishery to try artificial breeding. 



" You will find that you have said, ' Two years since 

 Mr. Ramsbottom induced the present proprietors to 

 try,' &c. Of course, as many of your readers must con- 

 clude, that there has only two years elapsed from the 

 taking of the river to the return of the grilse : however, 

 I must inform you this is not the case. It is four years 

 this month since the first lot of ova were deposited, viz. 

 18,000. These, when hatched, were kept in the nursery 

 beds and ponds for about two years and three months, and 

 then turned out into the river as smolts, perfectly ready 

 for sea. It was from the above lot of smolts we marked 

 the 700 in March, 1862, and which have during the just 

 past season returned as grilse, being now a little over three 

 and a half years old. 



" I am also very happy to inform you that I have just 

 received a note from my son to say that he has for the 

 first time seen grilse on the spawning beds of the river 

 at Doohulla. 



" That your readers may more clearly understand the 

 circumstances, I append a table of the dates, &c. 



"18,000 ova deposited at Doohulla, 1859. 



"Ova hatched Feb. 1860. 



"Fry kept in nursery ponds until May, 1862, being 

 nursed for two years and three months ; but I would here 

 remark that a few of the fry, but only a few, appeared to 

 be ready for sea when about thirteen months old. 



" Turned out of nursery ponds ready for sea May, 1862. 



