7 
England to procure fresh stock in May next, when he will commence 
sending out his purchases as soon as the great summer heat of the Red 
Sea is passed, returning to Melbourne at the end of the year. 
The Melbourne Zoological Gardens may now be said to have 
arrived at a distinct period of their history, as after a long struggle 
with insufficient funds, and bad means of access, the difficulties have 
at length been overcome and the Gardens by constant and unremitting 
care have now obtained a very creditable position. They have become 
so attractive that visitors are yearly increasing, the tramways have 
also been of great assistance in this direction, and by the end of 
the year it is hoped that the branch tramway to the Garden Gates 
will be an accomplished fact, as it is intended, early in the next 
session, to ask for the sanction of Parliament to construct it. The 
Council consider that the future of the Society is now assured and 
the efforts of the Directors will be not merely to keep the Gardens 
and collection ot animals up to their present standard, but to 
increase their attractiveness to the full limit of the funds at the 
disposal of the Society. 
The Continental Concerts under Mr. Siede’s direction, were 
tried again this year, but after several had been given, it was found 
that there was not on an average sufficient visitors to make them pay 
and they were therefore reluctantly discontinued. 
About fourteen thousand Trout Fry were placed last season in 
suitable rivers and creeks in different parts of the colony, which were 
obtained as usual from Sir Samuel Wilson’s Estate “ Ercildoune,” 
through the kindness of his representative in Melbourne, Mr. Archibald 
Fisken. Encouraging reports have been received as to the increase 
of English Trout in streams either wholly or partly stocked by the 
Society, notably in tributaries of the Upper Yarra and the Goulburn. 
Large numbers of Trout Fry have also been placed in Gippsland 
streams, but, as yet, no reports have come to hand as to their success 
in those rivers and creeks. The Council would be glad to receive 
intimation of the presence of these fish in Gippsland waters. The 
