41 
Of those despatched to Launceston, although conveyed hy Mr. 
Eamsbottom in person, a large number perished on the way. From 
the remainder only a few living trout were produced, and these, after 
attaining a considerable size, were, as in Victoria, carried away hy an 
overflow of the stream near which hatcliing-hoxes had been con¬ 
structed: from those retained under Mr. Bamsbottom's immediate 
charge about 40 young trout only have been obtained, which will to 
that extent add to the number of breeding fish for the season of ltdiS. 
A largo share in this unproductiveness is attributable to causes which 
arc now understood, and will not be allowed to influence future 
attempts to increase the number of this fish. 
During the past year many of the parent trout detained in the ponds, 
and still more those at large in the Plenty, have increased in size and 
weight at a surprising, and the Commissioners believe unprecedented, 
rate. 
In June last a male trout was found dead in the Plenty, evidently 
killed in an encounter with some of its associates during the exciting 
season of spawning, which measured 1!)£ inches in length, and weighed 
3£ pounds. 
On the 29th July last another was captured alive by Mr. llamsbottom, 
of which the length was 22 } inches, and the weight fully 4 pounds, 
although the lish was then in a spent and consequently lean condition, 
haying but recently shed its milt. If in full condition, Mr. llamsbottom 
estimates that the weight of this fish would have been between 5 and (i 
pounds. 
Many others have been seen in the Plenty of similar dimensions, and 
some ol those confined m the ponds are little inferior to them: although 
the trout set at liberty m the river and left to provide for themselves 
have always been somewhat in advance of then- brethren imprisoned in 
the ponds, where they have been carefully and diligently fed. 
The trout thus greatly increased in size began to spawn for the second 
time in the rivulet attached to the pond on the 23rd June; and, at the 
same time, some of those at large in the adjoining river were observed 
busily engaged in forming their nests and depositing their ova. 
The season of spawning extended over a period of about six weeks. 
—terminating on the Oth August. 
On this occasion the fish were permitted to deposit a large portion of 
their spawn in the natural way, the remainder only bein'* taken for 
artificial propagation. 
While the spawning was going on the parent fish readily passed from 
the pond into the rill; and, when the operation was completed, a con¬ 
siderable extent of the little stream was to be seen thickly studded with 
their nests. Before the spawning began, Mr. Eamsbottom had erected 
a temporary wooden screen close to the bank of the rivulet, from behind 
which the whole interesting process was watched by him, and clearly 
seen by some of the Commissioners and many other visitors, without 
disturbing the fish during their operations. 
Although a largo portion of the ova were left undisturbed in the 
gravel in which they were deposited by the parent fish, the number of 
ova obtained for artificial hatching exceeds the total produce of the 
preceding season. 
From the store thus obtained about 1,300 have been despatched to 
the care of the Victorian Acclimatisation Society in Melbourne, which, 
with a loss of about 25 per cent., are now in a thriving and promising 
condition in the pond prepared for their reception. 
D 
