146 THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
I had originally intended to have taken the fish intended 
for Gippsland, and more especially those for the Snowy 
Eiver, by sea, and had postponed making any arrange- 
ments for stocking these rivers, until the return of the 
Government steamer Victoria from her cruise, which I 
understood was to terminate about Christmas. An appli- 
cation made by the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society 
to the Government, for the use of the Victoria to take the 
salmon to Gippsland, had been very favorably received, and 
on seeing her arrival reported in the Argus, I at once wrote 
to the Commissioner of Trade and Customs, asking that 
arrangements might be made as soon as convenient, to 
send the fish to the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes, and 
to the mouth of the Snowy Eiver, and that the steam 
launch of the Cerberus might be taken, to go through the 
surf and ascend the Snowy Eiver with the young salmon. 
Not receiving any reply in a few days, I had an interview 
with the Hon. Mr. Lalor, who then stated that the Victoria 
could not be sent on this trip, as there was no money to 
pay the officers and men, on account of the political diffi- 
culties between the two houses of Parliament, and that 
Captain Stanley, the commander of the Victoria , did not 
consider it safe to land near, or to enter the mouth of the 
Snowy Eiver, unless in very calm weather, as the coast is 
unsheltered, and a dangerous surf from the Pacific Ocean, 
breaks upon the long stretch of the littoral line known as 
the Ninety-Mile Beach, near the mouth of the Snowy 
Eiver. I had an interview with Captain Stanley, who 
pointed out the risk of being detained for days, if high 
winds should blow landwards on that coast, and the danger 
to the lives of his men, should a landing be attempted in 
such circumstances, and it became evident that the idea 
of getting the Victoria to transport the fish, must be 
abandoned. 
