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37 
considered to depend On tlie production of heat by means of its 
oxygen and hydrogen; by lubricating the nmcous surfaces, and 
by being stored up in the tissues without transformation. It is 
considered by many—but requires continuation—that it promotes, 
assimilation of food, by affording the oily capsule to the globule 
of albumen in the chyle. 
The introduction of the salmon into Australia still excites the 
highest interest. The attempts have cost nearly £600, but have 
unfortunately failed; but many who have studied the subject, 
of the transport of this fish in a scientific manner, are con¬ 
vinced that young salmon, if properly and scientifically watched 
during a long voyage, would arrive in safety. I consider 
that the ova of this fish could be introduced from the 
rivers of California into many of the Australian rivers, and 
found suitable for it with greater facility than from Europe; 
and if I am borne out in this opinion by some in this colony— 
Mr. Black, for instance, who is conversant with the transport 
of fish ova—I think the trial ought to he made. I cannot 
see why the ova of various fish could not be transported in 
a dried state, enveloped in moss, and placed in water on their 
arrival at their final destination. Water-courses have been dried 
up in India, the fish have disappeared, but on the return of the 
rains the lakes and rivers are at their full height, and teeming 
with fish. The probable reason that could be assigned for this 
is, the ova, properly vivified, lying dormant in the mud, increase 
in vitality, and on the rise of the waters become hatched, and 
thus, as if by magic, the streams are filled with the finny tribe. 
We are now aware that the rivers in Europe are fertile with 
fish. The best system of fish culture, the utilising of the 
water, or mode of multiplying fish, is by the artificial production 
of them; a mode long practised by the Chinese, and now 
extended in all the rivers of Europe, and when properly carried 
out “ fish-hatching” is found to pay remarkably well. 
Now a great deal has been said about “gouramy,” an excellent 
fish, and attempts recently made to introduce it from the 
Mauritius failed from a little mismanagement, which on 
another trial could be easily rectified. This delicious fish 
is found in the rivers of Java, and in that island it has 
been supposed to have been introduced originally from China. 
If so, it was probably by the Chinese method of preserving 
the ova; and allowing this to be correct there would be no 
difficulty of conveying it by a similar method from Java to 
the fresh waters of this colony, as the distance would not be 
