37 
thousand fish in such a stream as the Derwent might pass and repass 
without attracting notice. 
Of this fact the Commissioners were strongly warned by the late 
lamented Mr. Ffcnnel, chief inspector of English salmon fisheries, who 
admonished them not to bo disappointed or discouraged if no salmon 
should be seen in the first year of their migration and return. 
And, undoubtedly, the return of the salmon was far more confidently 
and generally looked for in the beginning of the present than of the 
previous year, so that the eyes of many deeply interested in the under¬ 
taking, including Mr. Ramsbottom, the indefatigable superintendent of 
the salmon breeding establishment, w T ere directed to the waters of tho 
Derwent with more constant and more earnest attention during the 
latter than the former season. 
In the month of January of tho present year some large and strange 
fish, never lie fore observed by them, were seen to leap in tho Derwent, 
opposite the town of New Norfolk, by several residents of the liiglicst 
respectability; but ns various kinds of salt water fish occasionally visit 
tins part of the river, although far inferior in size to a salmon or a 
grilse, and of which none have ever been known to rise above the 
surface of the water, the Commissioners refrained from drawing any 
positive conclusion from these observations, although the parties by 
whom they were made and reported were worthy of every trust.* 
But on the 14th February unquestionable evidence of the presence of 
the returned salmon in the river was afforded by a party of gentle- 
menf of the first standing in the community, by whom, whilst riding 
close along the bank of tho Derwent, near a place called the “ Dry 
Creek,” several miles beyond the reach of the tide, and above several 
rapids, a largo fish was twice seen to leap from the water, which was 
afterwards observed gliding under the surface for some distance, and was 
at onco recognized as a salmon by one of the party familiarly acquainted 
in Ireland with the appearance and motions of that fish. 
On tho 21st February, two miles above the spot last mentioned, a 
largo fish was seen leaping by a respectable tradesman, while driving 
alon" the road which runs close to the bank of the river. 
On the 28th, at a spot a mile still further up the stream, a gentleman 
passing along on horseback, and one of the Water Bailiffs attached to 
the establishment, simultaneously, and from opposite hanks of the river, 
saw a large fish leaping, which the latter, an old salmon fisher from 
Scotland, at once identified as a salmon or grilse. 
On the 15th March, Mr. Kamsbottora, the experienced superintendent 
of the ponds, and a salmon fisher from liis earliest years, having been 
informed by the Water Bailiff that at a place a short way below the 
mouth of the Plenty he had seen a great commotion in the Derwent 
apparently caused by great numbers of small native fry pursued by 
Borne large fish, stationed himsell on tho bank of the stream at the spot 
indicated, and soon after distinctly saw a salmon or grilse rise from the 
water. 
On tho 18th March the same gentleman, his assistant, and a 
friend \ from New Norfolk visited the same part of the river, and in 
the course of a few hours in the afternoon wore rewarded by witnessing 
seven distinct rises. 
On the 1st April, one of the Commissioners,§ accompanied by two 
* Mrs. Sharland, Miss Kirkpatrick, and Mr. Oakley. 
t Right Rev. Dr. Murphy, Rev. Air. Dunne, ltev. Dr. Ilaycs of Melbourne, Rev. Mr. 
Hennebroy. J Dr. Moore. § Dr. Oftiocr. 
