THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
45 
pond in which the salmon fry were placed being examined, 
it was found that a further loss had taken place, and the 
number remaining was estimated at about 500 fish. After 
a time it was thought desirable to liberate them, as the 
period of their expected migration to the sea approached, 
aud those remaining, were allowed to find their way into 
the Eiver Plenty, about the end of the year 1865. These 
were the first salmon introduced into Australasian waters. 
A portion of the brown trout also were hatched out 
successfully, producing 320 fish, many of which died ; 
about thirty were liberated in the Plenty, and only six 
pairs reached maturity, and spawned in the ponds, and 
the progeny of these have been distributed over many 
rivers and streams in Tasmania, Victoria, and New 
Zealand, and they are the progenitors of all the brown 
trout in these colonies ; but up to the present time, 
it is understood that no salmon ova have been obtained, 
although a few undoubted specimens of the Salmo salar , 
have been caught at various times in the Eiver Plenty. 
A considerable number of salmonoids have also been 
caught, which were supposed to be the true salmon, but 
which appear to have been a species of sea trout, having 
pink flesh, and which were caught of various weights up to 
18 lbs. or 20 lbs. One of these was sent over to Mel- 
bourne, and on being scientifically examined by Professor 
McCoy, was pronounced to he a fine specimen of the Salmo 
ei'iox, a migratory species, of considerable commercial 
value. The ova had doubtless been taken and sent by 
mistake, with the salmon ova, the two fish having a strong 
resemblance to each other. It was not intended that this 
fish, which is commonly known as the “ bull trout,” should 
have been introduced here, both the Salmo salar and 
Salmo trutta being much superior fish. All doubts about 
the Salmo salar having been successfully established in 
Tasmania, have been set at rest by a specimen sent to 
