THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
163 
had a better prospect of success if a large number had been 
placed in one river. From the fact of six pairs of breeding 
trout having only been retained in the ponds at New 
Norfolk, and that these, with thirty more turned into the 
river, are the parents of all the trout in these colonies, it 
will be evident that by dividing the salmon the chances of 
success are greatly increased. It is impossible to tell 
which river may prove best suited to them, but when all 
the rivers in the colony of any note, have been tried, if at 
all suitable to the climate, they must succeed in some of 
them, and I had so many applications for a portion of the 
fish, that I could not well refuse to send a few to each river. 
Even from Tasmania I had a request for a few of the 
fry to put in the Mersey, and sent off 200 there, but from 
some cause, which I could not ascertain (possibly mctl-de - 
mer) all but seven fish perished during the sea-voyage, and 
these, I fear, will never be heard of again, although they 
were safely liberated in that fine stream, the Mersey 
Eiver. I hope that my Tasmanian friends will be more 
fortunate the next time that a similar attempt is made. 
I would here express my grateful appreciation of the 
warm interest in the undertaking shown by the public and 
the Press, but especially by the Argus, while the experi- 
ment was in progress. I also had very kind, and, indeed, 
in some cases, far too flattering expressions of acknow- 
ledgment from Shire Councils and from Angling Societies, 
and a most kind recognition of my exertions by the Council 
of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society. And to 
one and all I would offer my most hearty thanks for the 
kind feeling shown in connection with my undertaking, 
which has been so far successful, thanks to the good 
fortune which, under the blessing of Divine Providence, 
has attended the experiment, and to the able assistance 
that many have so freely rendered to promote that result. 
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