514 Proceedings. ; 
On the table were late numbers of the Edinburgh Review, Philosophical 
Journal, the Annals of Natural History, Hooker’s Journal of Botany, 
Archive fiir Naturgeschichte, Turner’s Fruitist and Florist, Geological 
Journal, &¢, &c. 
The Secretary read letters from A. Sprenger, Esq., Secretary to the 
Asiatic Society of Bengal, acknowledging receipt of “ Papers and Proceed~ 
ings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen’s Land,” and advising certain 
contributions made in return by that Society and by Mr. Blyth. 
The Secretary read a Despatch from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to 
His Excellency Sir William Denison, and a Report furnished to Her 
Majesty’s Land and Emigration Commissioners, on the failure of the attempt 
made to introduce salmon and trout from England into Tasmania by means 
of spawn, shipped on board the “Columbus,” in January 1852, by Dr. 
Boceius. This gentleman has undertaken, with the sanction of His Grace 
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to make another effort to accom- 
plish an object likely to prove so valuable to this country; andit had been 
resolved to ship spawn in October of this year, and to adopt every means 
to ensure success, which the probable causes of failure in the former trial 
would seem to render necessary. 
Upon discussing the subject the opinion of the meeting appeared to be, 
that if the water which is to be supplied during the voyage to the spawn- 
tubs or smolt-tanks be conveyed in iron tanks, there is but too much 
reason to fear that the amount of metallic impregnation (notwithstanding 
the coating of varnish employed to protect the inner surface of the iron) 
will be such as to render the element unfit for the fish to survive in, and 
that death and decomposition must ensue, as in the attempt already 
made. 
The Secretary laid before the meeting a note from Mr. Sherwin, recom- 
mending an inquiry into the origin, character, and progress of the epidemic 
diseases, Influenza and Scarlatina, which have lately prevailed, and which, 
‘in the case of the former, has affected and proved fatal to so sy of the 
inferior animals, 
On the motion of J. H. Moore, Esq., of New Norfolk, the thanks of the 
Society were accorded to the various persons making donations and for 
the papers produced. Some Indian correspondence was reserved for 
another meeting. 
A member thoughtit desirable that greater publicity should be given to 
the fact that the Museu is now open to visitors daily, Wednesdays 
excepted, from 2 to 5 o’clock p.m. 
The members separated about 10 o'clock, 
