152 
THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
promised an early arrival at Sale. The train for Melbourne 
was to start at eight o’clock, and the stationmaster at the 
Moe telegraphed to delay it fifteen minutes, till the arrival 
of the express. However, the powerful engine we had 
dashed along at such a good rate, that we were in Sale at 
twenty-five minutes to eight o’clock, and on reaching the 
station, I was received by the Mayor and Council of Sale, 
and the secretary and councillors of the shire of Avon; 
and three hearty cheers were given in honour of the event, 
by those assembled on the platform. 
According to arrangement, vehicles were in waiting to 
convey the salmon. Some 250 went to the Avon River, in 
charge of Messrs. Little, Lloyd, and Bolden, and the mayor 
of Sale, with Dr. Macdonald and Messrs. Bushe and Top- 
ping, started with 250 more for the Macalister River. 
Without delay, after leaving written instructions how to 
act, a start was made with the remainder for Bairnsdale, 
some forty-two miles off. The fish stood the journey well, 
being attended to every fifteen minutes, by forcing in 
fresh air, and ice being used, as required, to maintain a 
temperature of 55 deg. The thermometer, unfortunately, 
got broken here, but another was provided at Bairnsdale. 
The weather became very hot during this part of the 
journey. 
At Bairnsdale, Mr, Howitt, P.M., and Mr. Goold, the 
president of the shire, were waiting to receive us. The 
former volunteered to accompany us on horseback to the 
Snowy River, and, from his thorough acquaintance with 
the district during the many years he has spent there, 
no one could better act as guide. A more pleasant 
companion I would not desire to travel with, and his 
readiness of resource in an emergency, is invaluable in an 
expedition over such rough country as we had to travel 
through. It will be remembered that Mr. Howitt went as 
