THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
159 
surprise, was 73 % deg. Higher up the river, no doubt, it 
is much cooler, and I wished greatly that the salmon could 
have been first taken there. The Buchan was half a degree 
warmer, or 74 deg., and this stream seemed to me better 
suited to salmon than the Snowy, although they will, in my 
opinion, do well in both rivers. It has been stated that 
the Californian salmon goes through waters in its native 
country up to a temperature of 85 deg. in safety. In the 
Avon the fry perished at 83 deg. In a brisk current they 
will live at temperatures that they could not bear in still 
water, and in all the Gippsland rivers a good stream runs 
throughout the driest summer. The present season has 
been exceptionally dry and hot, and my journey took place 
a few days after mid-summer, in the very hottest season of 
the year. 
After having a short rest and a pot of tea, we retraced 
our steps and patched up the damaged buggy, pushing 
along rapidly, and at about ten o’clock on Saturday night 
reached Gibb’s at Stony Creek, and next day Bairnsdale, 
where I parted with regret from Mr. Howitt and his son, 
and Mr. O’Brien. The buggy broke down completely, and 
was brought on by a bullock-dray. As Parliament was to 
meet on Tuesday I was obliged to travel through the 
night, to catch the train at Sale at eight o’clock on Monday 
morning, and arrived in Melbourne about ten o’clock on 
Monday, having travelled about 600 miles, over the worst 
roads in the colony, in a wonderfully short time. 
I cannot close this account of my trip without mention 
of George Witts, the driver of the waggon from Baims- 
dale to the Snowy Biver, to whose care and skill the safety 
of the fish is greatly due, and of Mr. Mackieson’s services 
as guide, which were of great value in shortening the 
journey. The Shire of Bairnsdale had liberally provided 
for the conveyance of the fish. 
