180 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



the length of time between spawning and hatch- 

 ing ; the number which arrived in New Zealand 

 alive — with any other particulars which may 

 occur to him), — he will confer a great obligation 

 on natural history. I am the more desirous of 

 learning how long the ova were hatching ; be- 

 cause it is now a disputed point. To me, it seems 

 less a matter of time than of temperature. "Ephe- 

 mera " says, that the ova were 140 days in hatch- 

 ing in the Shinn ; whilst here a gentleman of my 

 acquaintance has them hatching in 62 or 63 days 

 from the time of deposition in the gravel. But 

 then he hatches th'jm in spring-water of which 

 the temperature is seldom below 50° ; and I 

 am desirous of knowing — whether the passing 

 through the tropics did not hasten the process still 

 more ? I have long and frequently heard (indi- 

 rectly) of Mr. Gurney's success in breeding 

 and hope he will not consider me imper- 

 if I suggest to him the extension of his 

 experiments — not only to salmon, but to the pro- 

 duction of hybrids, between the trout and the 

 salmon. This is a problem in natural history 

 which I believe has been solved here ; but I 

 would rather it were repeated by an independent 

 observer." — We will, when we receive it, give 

 Mr. Gurney's reply to these questions in full. 

 The matter is one of great public interest,] 



trout 

 tinent 



More "Hideous Sacrifices." — In your last 

 number, Mr. Editor, you very kindly directed the 

 particular attention of your fair readers to the 

 tricks of our large " selling-off linendrapers ; " and 

 explained how these swindles upon the pocket 

 and common sense were managed and got up. You 

 spoke, too, of a certain West-end house having 

 dissolved partnership many months ago, and "sold 

 off" the remaining stock at "fearful sacrifices" — 

 realising thereby for themselves 400 per cent ! 

 That same large establishment, Sir, has again 

 just *' dissolved partnership ! " The very same 

 gigantic swindle is going on upon the very same 

 premises — new goods being smuggled in at night 

 (as before), to replace those "great bargains" 

 which have been sold during the day, at " hideous 

 sacrifices," to the victimised public! Let these 

 remarks prove a second warning to your fair 

 readers, for whose further enlightenment I have 

 transcribed the pithy caution of our friend Punch, 

 in connection with another branch of the swindling 

 linendrapery trade. Thoroughfares, says he, are 

 just now infested by gangs of suspicious-looking 

 characters, who go about for the purpose of thrust- 

 ing into our hands, throwing into the windows of 

 cabs and omnibuses, or impudently leaving at our 

 houses, a quantity of printed letters — having the 

 words " From the Commissioners," " Private 

 Issue," and not unfrequently the Royal Arms on 

 the envelope. These things are becoming an in- 

 tolerable nuisance ; not only in London, but in 

 several provincial towns, into which a set of 

 hawsers have intruded themselves. Getting 

 possession of a room at one of the principal inns, 

 they diffuse their fraudulent announcements among 

 the unsuspecting inhabitants. For the instruction 

 of the public, we shall take the liberty of trans- 

 lating one of these swindling circulars into the 

 plain truth ; so that people may know what they 

 really .have to expect if they visit the " Com- 

 mission Rooms," " Marts," " Emporiums," " Pub- 



lic Halls," or whatever else these dens of dis- 

 honesty may be called in town or country. 

 Alarming sacrifice of — truth and honesty. 

 The well-known — and much better known than 

 trusted — firm of Swag, Brag, Tag, Rag, and 

 Company, having purchased, with accommodation 

 bills drawn upon the notorious houses of Swindle, 

 Dwindle, and Co., the whole stock of Damaged 

 Damasks, Rubbishy Stuffs, Short-measure Long- 

 cloths, and Bad Goods, have determined to get 

 them cleared off in a few days, so that Swag, 

 Brag, Tag, Rag, and Co., may get clear off them- 

 selves before they are traced by their dupes and 

 creditors. The whole must be got rid of without 

 any reserve, but with the usual unblushing impu- 

 dence ; and wholly regardless of cost — to character. 

 Among the principal bargains will be found 5000 

 Opera Mantles, worth 10s.; present price £1 Is. 

 These elegant articles may be said to be so re- 

 duced as to be had for almost lothing, as they are 

 so small that scarcely any use can be made of 

 them. 3000 pieces of Common English Stuff, 

 lately translated into French Merino, and now 

 offered for six times as much as they are worth, as 

 they must be got rid of in order to effect a good 

 riddance. About 1000 dresses in pieces — every 

 dress being in at least eight or nine pieces — but 

 must not be opened before purchase, as time will 

 not allow ; at say 6 and 9 per dress. Thousands 

 of Lovely Bareges, at a nominal price — the value 

 being literally nominal. Several Shawls in beau- 

 tiful designs — the principal design being on the 

 pockets of the public. 170 Dresses at 8 and 6 ! 

 Very costly — at that price. 1000 Ell-wide 

 Robing Silks at 2 guineas, worth at least ten — 

 shillings. Several pieces of Satin in lengths, 

 greatly reduced — in length, by Bhort measure. 

 7000 Transparent Encaustic Shawls, at 25 shil- 

 lings — the transparency being so complete, that 

 the imposition may be seen through immediately. 

 Several thousands of extraordinary Muffs — quite 

 worthy of the purchasers at this establishment. 

 All goods — and bads — must be paid for before 

 they are taken away, as, if time were allowed for 

 inspection, no one would ever think of paying for 

 them afterwards. Any article complained of will 

 be rectified on inquiring at the other establishment, 

 number 2400, Regent Street, with back entrance in 

 Cheapside. — You may wonder why I take so much 

 interest in this matter ; but your wonder will cease 

 when I tell you that, of three fair dupes (who 

 have been seriously victimised by the " hideous 

 sacrifice " mongers) I am the unhappy — Father. 

 [ Ought the " victims" in such cases to be pitied 

 — or not ? We ourself saw, in one of these large, 

 swindling establishments in Oxford Street (" dis- 

 solving partnership"), an affiche to this effect — 

 " One Guinea — would be cheap at Four ! " Four 

 what ? Question ! And yet, a bargain-hunter sees 

 this and believes it. If the seller is a swindler — 

 he is ; — what is the buyer ? W"e dare not write 

 the word. It will readily suggest itself.] 



How can I impart Color to Oil? — I wish, Mr. 

 Editor, to ask this question through your columns. 

 The coloring matter must not be mineral. The 

 color I require, is either black or brown ; and it must 

 not affect the transparency of the oil or fatty matter. 

 — Violet. 



[Will some of our readers kindly step in to the 



