Aug. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
THE FISHERIES OF VICTORIA.. 27 
the old country, with experience, will soon find their way to Canada, 
and join those who have water-power and buildings, which they would 
readily turn in as so much stock, and, with combined effort, success 
would undoubtedly be achieved. 
The cottonizing of flax is strongly recommended. Only the other 
day a party from Detroit sent me a sample, stating that his mill will 
make about 1,500 lbs. per day from flax tow. This is a most important 
feature in the case, as it proves that the very roughest and coarsest part 
of the flax can be turned to good account, and although parties may 
embark in this new project with comparatively little knowledge, by 
degrees they will arrive at a point that will give them complete control 
of their business and be most profitable. In all cases, it is best to com- 
mence with the coarser qualities of goods, and not on too extensive a 
scale. The great demand for seed for sowing this spring is sufficient 
proof that farmers are determined to give this new crop a fair trial. 
Those who have not engaged the quantities they require, will act wisely 
to do so before the season advances too far. When we speak of 40,000 
or 50,000 acres as likely to be sown this year, we must not forget that 
this area will not be much more than the arable land in a single town- 
ship. If there were only two acres sown on each 100 acres in every 
township in the province, what a vast quantity we might look for ! 
Every farmer is perfectly safe in putting in from two to five acres at 
least. More than tlrs, I do not hesitate to say he stands in his own light 
if he does not grow at least a small quantity of this promising product. 
Toronto, Canada, West. 
THE FISHERIES OF VICTORIA. 
BY G. S. LA.NG. 
Bay-fishing. — From the information already collected as to a very 
limited portion of the coasts and seas within easy reach of Melbourne, 
it is established that the supply of fish is practically unlimited. In 
Port Phillip Bay there is an area of over 700 square miles, with coast 
line of about 130 miles well supplied with fish ; and in Western Port 
Bay about 300 square miles, one immense fishing ground, and still 
more plentifully supplied with better fish, and with a coast line of 120 
miles including French and Phillip Islands. Both bays are landlocked, 
and in every way favourable for fishing. The following are the descrip- 
tion of fish found in these bays : — Schnapper, from 2lb. to 20lb., and 
even 301b. ; rock-cod, flathead, garfish, whiting, silver-fish, mullet, 
gurnet, ling, perch, mackarel, butter-fish, 10lb. to 2olb. ; salmon-trout, 
white salmon, bream, plaice, flounders, and king-fish, also cray-fish, 
d 2 
