57 



effectual natural agents in the rapid devolpment of vegetation, more 

 especially with regard to the mulberry, which is indigenous to warm 

 climates. In seasons of drought it will be necessary to irrigate the 

 ground along the trenches, and a few days afterwards to rake it over 

 to admit the penetration of the heat, which had been nearly destroyed 

 by the previous irrigation, because the evaporation of the water is 

 creating cold. These directions may perhaps appear minute to 

 persons unacquainted with the great importance of the matter, but I 

 consider they are essential to the successful rearing of the young 

 plants, and if they grow well and prosperous the first year they will 

 be fit to be grafted in the second, and the graft will usually spring 

 up a young tree in the course of the next season. I would not 

 trespass on your patience by extending this paper to any greater 

 length ; I shall therefore reserve my remarks on the formation of 

 hedges, the education of the trees, and the rules necessary for 

 pruning, &c, for the next paper that I shall have the honour to 

 bring before you on this subject. 



THE FISHERIES OF VICTORIA. 



Read by G. S. Lang, Esq., at a Meeting held September 15, 1S64. 



The object of my present paper is to show how, and how far, our 

 fisheries may be elevated into one of the great industries of the 

 colony. I shall commence simply by a few remarks on the present 

 fish supply of Melbourne. 



BAY-FISHING. 



From the information already collected as to a very limited portion 

 of the coasts and seas within easy reach of Melbourne, it is estab- 

 lished that the supply of fish is practically unlimited. In Port 

 Philip Bay there is an area of over 700 square miles, with coast line 

 of about 130 miles, well supplied with fish ; and in "Western Port 

 Bay about 300 square miles, one immense fishing-ground, and still 

 more plentifully supplied with better fish, and with a coast line of 

 120 miles, including French and Philip Islands. Both bays are 

 landlocked, and in every way favourable for fishing. The follow- 

 ing are the descriptions of fish found in these bays : — Schnapper, 

 from 21b. to 201b., and even 301b.; rock-cod, flathead, garfish, whiting, 

 silver-fish, mullet, gurnet, ling, perch, mackarel, butter-fish, 101b. to 

 201b.; salmon-trout, white salmon, bream, plaice, flounders and king- 

 fish, also crayfish, shrimps, and oysters. It is very difficult to form 

 even a near approximation to the number of boats and men engaged 

 in fishing. There are 316 licences issued for tents and huts for 

 fishing, and allowing only one boat for each licence, and two and 



