830 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [June i, 1895. 
TICKINGS WITH A LOCAL APPLICATION. 
The following from Laud and Water of January 
5th gives an account of a most interesting experi- 
ment ; viz. the Artificial, Phopogation of Fish : 
Five years ago a Fisheries Commission was ap- 
pointed which in 1893 became a Department with a 
skilful, and scientific superintendent in charge of the 
practical work. Well-considered regulations for the 
proper and economical conduct of the fisheries have 
been devised and are now enforced while the methods 
of curing and packing i lie different kinds of fish for 
foreign markets are being improved. Most interesting 
of all however are the experiments in artificial pro- 
pagation to which at the beginning of this letter I 
referred and which have already met with a decided 
measure of success. Under the direction of the Su- 
perintendent, a hatchery wasestablished on an island 
in Trinity Bay, from which, during the four years 
1890-93 no fewer than 423,439,000 cod have been 
turned out. From the same place, during the five 
years 1889-93 nearly 33,000,000 lobster ova have also 
been hatched out. In addition to the above, by 
means of floating incubators (an invention of 
Mr. Milsen's) placed in nearly " all the large 
bays of the island, the gigantic number of 
1,886,767,000 lobsters have been treated. The young 
cod require from three to four years to mature, 
lobsters from five to seven ; further time therefore 
in the case of the latter more especially is needful. 
This year however the Newfoundland papers have 
been able, to the infinite joy of all concerned, to 
announce that the "grand experiment of restocking 
the waters of Trinity Bay by the artificial propaga- 
tion of codfish, which has been going on for four 
years, has resulted in a magnificent success." Vast 
shoals of cod, one, two, and three years old, 
intermingled with larger ones have been found all 
round Trinity Island, and the oldest fishermen 
declare that they never beheld there such quantities 
of fish, and that they can catch as many as they 
like. Mr. Wilson has two thousand spawners in his 
pond and expected to plant three hundred million 
ova this year. 
The lobster hatching would appear likely to turn 
out equally successful, for vast numbers of these 
valuable crustaceans from two to five inches in length 
have been observed in the neighbourhood of the 
incubators. The value of the latter achievement is 
enhanced by the fact that the whole of the immense 
niass of ova thus utilised was collected from the 
various lobster factories along the coast and would 
in the ordinary course have been destroyed. 
The Australian Agriculturist referring to the varieties of 
BANANAS 
grown in Queensland, says; — The ease with which the 
Cavendish variety (Musa Cavendishii) is cultivated 
ftlong with it, carrying the heaviest crop and being 
of a short sturdy growth renders it the favourite. 
Next in importance comes the so-called sugar (M. 
Sapientum) var. grown solely in commercial quanti- 
ties in South Queensland Following the sugar 
eomes the Lady's finger (M. Orientum? ) which, along 
with the Dacca (M. Dacca?) and Strawberry (M. 
Baracoa ?) are the only sorts commonly cultivated. 
Besides the above, however, the following are to be 
seen, some undergoirg test cultivation: — Orinoco, 
Lubang, large fig from West Indies, Golden from 
Bahamas, besides a dozen sorts from Ceylon, and 
half as many from New Guinea Highly or- 
namental as" are all the members of this family, 
none can for scenic effect compare with the red 
Jamaican or Baracoa which has its entire stalks, 
midribs of leaves and bunches of fruit alike wine- 
coloured and attains a height of 20 feet. 
During the past month — says the Australian Agricul- 
turist — the attention of culturists, as well as investors, 
has been called to the growth of one of the most useful 
of plants — that of 
COFFEE. 
Not that coffee has been neglected in Queensland, 
for there are a goodly number of coffee growers 
scattered over the colony. But the efforts made in 
Jhe past to grow t,be cheering berry have been of 
too spasmodic a character to Attract notice. The days 
of haphazard growing or experimenting are now over, 
and a system of determined and businesslike effort 
has been initiated. In another column we give the 
report of a meeting of promoters of a properly orga- 
nised company, calling themselves the Queensland 
Coffee Company, which we believe is only the fore- 
runner of others to follow. It is said that it is the 
unexpected which always happens, but it looks strange 
(now that a company has been actually formed I that 
coffee glowing has not before thin been tried on a large 
scale. Coffee is a crop requiring, like tobacco, special 
skill, and unlike most other ciops, requiring consider- 
able capital. 
GUINEA OHASK 
is thrs a long while in reaching Australia. Here is h ,w 
the Tro/iii ullui int and .Stuck Ofttdtt refers to this 
old fodder grass : — A new 
MfenMB PLANT, 
t'le Guinea Grass or Panicum Maximum, appears to 
be a fodder of great value. It is a fast grower, and 
attains a height of H feet. It is highly nuti itious, 
and well adapted for Queensland It is the best grass 
raised on the plains of India, where it sometimes grow 
six inches in one day. 
(Given in the Cape Colony Journal oj ' Agr'uuHurr.) 
The following is a list of the principal Fishks 
caught in the colony : — 
Snoek (Thyrsites atun). a voracious fish, caught in large 
numbers anil salted fur exportation 
Sole (Solea vulgaris), highly prized 
Anchovy (Kngraulis encrasicolus), caught abundantly 
Bagger (Bagrus capensis), flesh resembling that of eel 
Baardiuannetjie (I'mbrina capensis), reputed a deli- 
cious fish 
Bamboo Fish (Boops Salpa), a rich and delicate flsh 
Dageraad (Pagrus laniarius), highly prized 
Dasje (Cantharus euiarginatus), highly esteemed 
Klft (Tenniodon siltator), do 
Galleon (Dipterodon capensis). a good flsh 
Geelbek (Otolithus fequidens), large flsh, flesh rather dry 
Gurnard. Red (Trigla capensis), flesh Ann but palatable 
Gurnard, Grey (Tiigla Peronii) 
Halfcord (Scomber capensis), not much in request 
Hangberger (Surgus hottentottus). Much used for pickling 
Harder (Mugil c ipemis) very numerous, do 
Hottentot (Sargus capensis), fairly good length, 12 
inches to 14 inches 
Jacob Kvertsen (Sebastes capensis), so called from a Dutch 
captain with a red face ami projecting eyes ; highly prized 
Bastard Jacob Kvertsen (Pinielepterus fuscus), flesh 
well flavoured 
Kabeljouw (Sciivna hnlolepidota), a large flsh, good for 
salting and export to Mauritius 
Katunker (Stromateiis capensis), a good table flsh 
Kalipfish (Blennius versicolor), very delicious, several 
varieties 
King Klifish (Xiphiurus capensis), very good 
Leerfish (Lichia Auiia), not much esteemed 
Mackerel (Scomber Grex), not much liked, flesh greasy 
Do (Bastard Maasbanker) (Caranx trachurus), flesh 
well formed and wholesome 
Pompelmoesje (Cheilodactylus brachydactylus), tender 
and wholesome 
Poeskop (Chrysophris gibbk-eps), very choice 
Rock Cod (Serranus Cuvierii), highly esteemed 
Roman (Chrysophrys cristiceps), most delicious 
Sancord (Sebastes maculatus), a delicious fish 
Sandcreeper (Rhinobatus annulatus), tender and delicate 
— the addition of an excess would not be detri* 
mental, as it would be soon converted into sulphate 
by the oxygen dissolved in the water. After treat- 
ment in this manner, water has a pure taste and 
a perfectly neutral reaction. Whether pathogenic 
bacteria are completely destroyed by such treatment 
has not been exactly ascertained. 
The Melbourne Leader mentions that two Viennese 
bacteriologists have been examining some bank notes 
that have been in circulation for a few years, and 
estimated the number of microbes on them at 
19,000 or more on each note. Besi les a specific mi- 
crobe, which has a deadly effect on animals " in- 
oculated " with it, they are reported to have found 
eight pathogenic species, amongst them the bacilh of 
tuberculosis and diphtheria, and the streptococcus of 
erysipelas. It would be interesting to learn how 
many! bacilli of the pathogenic sort could ba found 
on some of the most freely circulated books of a 
leading library, 
