438 Introduction of Salmon 
r 
Broadway, Hammersmith, 
Ath April, 1858. 
Srr,—I haye carefully read through the documents handed 
me for perusal from His Excellency Sir Wm. Denison, 
Governor of Van Diemen’s Land, and of other parties, 
relative to the experiment of transmitting salmon spawn to 
that colony by order and desire of Earl Grey, Secretary of 
the Colonies in 1851. 
As the arrangements for the purpose were left to my 
directions and instructions, I regret to read in those docu- 
ments of the failure of the undertaking, over the cause of 
which I had no control, but experienced much vexation, as 
hereafter related. I am now, however, quite satisfied that 
salmon spawn can be conyeyed in perfect safety alive to that 
colony for the desired purpose of propagation. I am much 
gratified to read that Sir W. Denison, even with this failure, 
wishes a second experiment to be undertaken ; and for that 
purpose, His Grace the Duke of Newcastle is desirous to 
have my views and report as to the cause of such failure, 
and of the cost of a future trial. 
The failure I attribute entirely to the following circum- 
stances, which I trust will perfectly exonerate me from all 
carelessness or want of foresight towards carrying out to per- 
fection the desired undertaking, after and upon my system 
of artificial spawning, breeding, and rearing of fish. 
In referring to my Diary for 1851, I find that, on the 
28rd of December, I was desired to call upon Messrs. Hall 
Brothers, Ship-brokers ; who informed me that they had 
chartered the barque Columbus, Captain Daniel Smith, for 
Hobart Town direct, and that this vessel was positively to 
sail on the 12th January, 1852; therefore it would be abso- 
