MR YOUL AND ACCLIMATISATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 919, 10 July 1869, Page 8

MR YOUL AND ACCLIMATISATION.

The following is a translation of some interesting extracts relative to Mr Youl's efforts in the introduction of salmon into Tasmania, taken from the report read before the Socidt(j Impdriale Zoologique d'Aclimatisation in Paris by Dr J. Ltfon Soubeiran, the Secretary of the Society, and published in Land and Water, April 10 :—

The conclusion has beon arrived at nearly all over the world, that the quantity of fish furnished by the water, oven where it was most abundant formerly, is sensibly diminishing, and thatitis urgently necessary to consider the best methods of increasing the supply. There has been, in consequence, a tendency almost everywhere to engage in water-cultivation, following in this the suit of France, which nation, if it has not yet derived all the advantage that was possible from the principle that it has applied, has certainly had the undisputed honour of initiating it.

Your society, from tho first day of its existence, has always accorded a lively solicitude to labours of this kind, and you have been happy to record the success obtained in Denmark by M. Feddersen, in Styria by the Baron Washington, in Wurtemburg by Professor Ruoff, in Switzerland by Messrs Vouga and Joly, and in Spain by M. Muntadas. The results secured by Mr Ainsworth, tho zealous originator and advocate of pisciculture in the United States, and those of Mr Seth Green, not less remarkable, though later, have also been indicated to you, and have proved to you the oxtension that pisciculture has takon throughout the world.

But there is one fact which has more particularly struck you, and that is the introduction, happily accomplished at the present moment, of wUmon into Tasmania. The undertaking was difficult, but it wiu taken in hand by m«n whose perseverance was proof against discouragement. Thus taoy continued their efforts without allowing their ardour to relax in consequence of tho first failures, and now tho salmon has reached the antipodes, to live in the waters of tho Derwont Tho greatest part in this success in duo to tho tenacity of Mr J. Youl, whoso energetic perseverance has triumphed over all obstacles, and who has devoted himself entiroly to tho Accomplishment of this great objoct. Without him. and without the admirable obstinacy of his collaboratmra, tho salmon would not bo now a Tasmanian fish. But we, too, can oloim, by tho admission of Mr \onl, our port in tho honour of this ■uocobs, for our country and our society, by tho instructions given, have contributod largely to tho wsuo. . . . . But no doubt you aro impatient to soo tno reach tho special objoct of thin report : — Tho Imporial Society has conforwd this year throo grand goW modal*. Tho first, presented by tho Minister of AgriouUuro and Commoroo, has boon awarded to Mr .Tamos Youl, of London, for tho Intro* duction of salmon into Tasmania. It ii a curious and instructive history, that of tho acclimatisation of salmon at tho anti-

podes. j If the dimensions of thin report allowed me, I should like to introduce you to the long succession of efforts; crowned at last. with triumph, and I assure you that rarely does fiction offer more, that is interesting than this true history. At least' three months are required for a clipper to accomplish the distance that separates Europe from Australia. Now, the hatching of the eggs (you know arhat eggs we are concerned with) takes place in six weeks, or two months at the most in our temperate climate. Under the fiery sky of the tropics, fifteen days will suffice. But the fry once born, its loss is certain, it can : neither bear the fatigue of the voyage nor the variations of the temperature. Three failures, in 1852, 1854, and 1858, have proved this only too well. How, then, I are we to delay the hatching ?

It is here that has been exhibited the erenius of the Anglo-Saxon race — genius born of patience, inaccessible to despair. Instructed by the failures of the previous attempts, Mr Youl addressed hiimelf to our society, and assisted by the advice of M. Gerbe, the able collaborateur 6f M. Coste, he had constructed special cases, in which the eggs deposited on a bed of gravel, should be constantly wetted by a rill of iced water. To secure this constant temperature of the water, several tons of ice were embarked on board the vessel in whioh the ova were transported. In spite of these precautions the shipment once more failed, the voyage was prolonged beyond the ordinary time, and the ice did not last. This was of little consequence. Mr Youl was not the man to stop. He began again and again, until he succeeded. We may see him again at work with this discovery, that eggs embedded in ice preserve their vitality for more than 144 days. A better vessel and a larger provision of ice, this is the price of success. In short, on the 24th of January, 1864, the Norfolk leaves London, taking with her 100,000 salmon eggs and 3000 trout. Eighty-four days afterwards she arrives in Hobson's Bay, There the seal affixed by Mr Youl on her departure from London is broken in the presence of a distinguished party, the icehouse is opened, and it is ascertained that the greater portion of the eggs are sound. After the arrival in Australia all is not finished. Before the acquisition is definitive and certain, as it now is, much care and many precautions are necessary. A moment's negligence or inattention would have compromised the work. But I have said enough to induce you to agree with us in thinking that the gold medal awarded to Mr Youl is more than deserved.

Mr Youl being detained at home by the state of his health, Dr Soubeiran, the secretary, is desired to transmit the medal.