THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
133 
expected from the undertaking. There are good grounds 
for the belief, that the introduction of the salmon is not 
merely a curious scientific experiment, but that there is a 
prospect of its proving useful, in adding materially to the 
food supply of the people. 
THE DISTEIBUTION AND LIBEEATION OF 
THE CALIFOENIAN SALMON FET. 
When the salmon fry had nearly advanced to the stage 
in which the umbilical sac is absorbed, I found it necessary 
to make arrangements for their distribution without delay. 
While yet in the alevin stage, no food is required, and they 
need less room in the cans in which they are conveyed, 
than when they have grown to a larger size. I had many 
applications for a portion of the fry, for various rivers and 
streams, from shire and borough councils, and from 
private individuals ; and after collecting as much informa- 
tion as possible, concerning the various rivers and streams 
in the colony, I came to the conclusion that the Gipps- 
land rivers, and those streams running into the sea near 
Cape Otway, were the best suited for the purpose. The 
Tarra Eiver, also, notwithstanding that its waters are 
sometimes poisoned by the noxious refuse from many 
factories, will, I think, prove well suited to the Californian 
salmon, as their descent and ascent would probably take 
place after a flood, which would have purified the few 
miles of the river near Melbourne most dangerous to 
them. And a swift- swimming fish, that can go thirty 
miles up the stream in a day, will go through the most 
dangerous part of the river, opposite Melbourne, in a few 
hours. It is impossible to foresee the result of experi- 
ments of this kind in a new country, and under new con- 
