ACCLIMATIZATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 467, 15 November 1869, Page 3

ACCLIMATIZATION.

The box containing the Southland portion of the recent presentation of trout ova from the Tasmanian Acclimatization Society (hatched in Dunedin) arrived at the Bluff per Lord Ashley on Nov. 7, in charge of the Curator, Mr Howard, and was at once transmitted by rail as far as Bain's Junction Hotel, Waikivi. From thence, says the Southland News, it was borne on the shoulders of volunteers to the hatching house at Wallacetown (three miles). Here the fish were transferred to the rill in a most satisfactory state — but a very email percentage having perished in the transit from Dunedin to their destination. A visit to the ponds at Wallacetown will well repay any who may be interested in fish culture, and convince the most sceptical that the province is admirably adapted for the acclimatisation of salmon or trout. Dozens of the latter fish, from five to seven inches in length, may now be Keen on a fine morning or evening disporting themselves in the ponds. The following letter, signed " John A. McEwen," and dated London, Sept, 10, will give some idea of the extent to which the Otago Acclimatisation Society is carrying out its work. It was read at a meeting of the Society on Nov. 11:— " Dear Sir, — I have now to advise you that an order has been placed by me on account of tbe Otago Acclimatisation Society, in conformity with youra of 15th May, as follow 6- : dozen goldfinches, and a like number of starlings, thrushes, and blackbirds ; also five dozen partridges, four dczen pheasants, and 24 hares. The quantities will be, of course, more or leas, as opportunity and the funds at my disposal may admit of. "As to the mode of tending them, after much consideration and careful enquiry, I find that it will be best to send some competent person in charge of them. This, of oourse, entails expense, but I am quite convinced that the. Society will be the best served by adopting this plan. I would add, that the parties to whose opinion I have deferred are those who have had considerable experience in tbe exporting 61 birds and animals, and they unhesitatingly advise the course I have- determined upon ; one of the number even putting it in such strong terms as to say that to do otherwise would simply be to defraud the Society, and as 1 have no wish to do this, I have determined as previously intimated. The vessel by which they will most likely be sent is the Warrior Queen. Messrs Shaw, Saville, and Co., have again chartered that ship, and once upon my naming the matter to them, placed the deck house at my disposal; you will remember that it was erected by the Society for their last shipment, and will, I believe, be the most suitable of anything I have seen, when a partition is put up to prevent the heat of the cook's galley from affecting the temperature where the birds will be placed. Whilst on a visit to Scotland lately, I took the liberty of soliciting a contribution of game from (he Earl of Dalbousie by letter, after reading which his Lordship desired an interview with me, and promised a contribution next spring, for which I thanked him, but am at a loss as to the money required to carry out the offer, seeing that the present shipment will absorb the whole I now hare at my disposal. You will therefore please advise me what you can do . in order to enable me to carry out his Lordship's proposal. I am quite aware of the diillculty you have in getting money, but tiu*t that by an effort you may succeed in enabling me (if only in part) to avail of . his Lordship's offer, especially to secufe red deer, which was one thing he specially referred to. They will cost about £2 each to rear, as they have to be picked tip just after being calved or before they, thoroughly get the use of their legs; by so doing, they are as a matter of course quieter, and therefore the more easily transported without risk o! injury. If the society is not in funds, per haps some of your country members would make an advance, in order to secure such a valuable addition to the game of the province. As to grouse, I fear they will be difficult to transport, even if reared in captivity;' for Lord Dalhousie informed me that he had given another gentleman 300 eggs last year, and although many were hatched, >ot one bird was reared. I also got a friend to try for me, and he got eleven eggs, eight of which hatched; but after living for about a fortnight, they gradually dropped off, despite the greatest care and every concievable variety of food. I however have since learned that a person in Aberdeenshire has succeeded in rearing^ some for Mx Fordyee, M.P.,. who. has sen£ them to the King of Sweden. This shows that it can be done ; and in order to further the interests of your society, I have, through J. W. Gordon,. Esq., Aberdeenshire, secured

the party's address, and will enquire of him the means he adopted, upon receiving which I shall again make an effort to rear some on account of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. In accordance with information by your! favour, lat once communicated with J. W. Gordon, Esq., of Lomnay House, Aberdeenshire, relative to red deer, and from him received a most courteous reply, but offering roe deer instead of red deer, at the same time stating that this was what he offered to Mr Wilson, solicitor, of your city. This offer I declined, knowing thattheßoebuck bad not been favourably thought of by your society on a former occasion ; but if you should now entertain the offer, they can still be got, as Mr Gordon offers to trap and send them to London free of expense. The Society agreed to send £150 to Mr ME wen for the pu-pose* specified in his letter. It was reported at the meeting that 100 salmon had been seen in the Waiwera The Government are about to turn them out, the largest being about 9 inches long.