THE TROUT OVA,

West Coast Times, Issue 630, 1 October 1867, Page 3

THE TROUT OVA,

• (FROM! TH£ I/TTTEITON TIMES, SEP. 23.) Mr Johnson, the Secreiaryof the Acclimatization Society, arrived by the Eangitoto on Saturday, with the trout ova which he has procured from Tasmania. Dr Officer and the other members of the {£i Commission evinced every desixe to aid" Mr Johnson in carrying out the objects of his mission, and expressed then* hearty^wishes for the success of the experiments • The ova, which were spawned shotQy before Mr Johnson's arrival in Tasmania, in a little rill connected with the j>onds at the Plenty, were packed in inoss-in three boxes, containing 400 eacn? The boxes were perforated and placed in a larger one, also containing mossi\ The passage to Melbourne was very rough, and the boxes were^much shaken. The stormy weather haviifg- delayed the steamer, a week's /detention in Melbourne was the consequence, during which time the boxes were packed in ice at the works of; the Victorian Ice Company. On the departure from Melbourne of the Rangitoto, the box was slung on board the steamer, and a fresh supply of ice obtained from the Company. The voyage to New Zealand was a fair one, but strong heads winds were met with between the Bluff, Otago, and Lyttelton. During this time the ova were carefully watched and a fresh supply of ice was in the outer box every two hours, : aj'd the moss kept saturated with the coldest fresh water procurable. On the "arrival of the steamer at Otago, one of the boxes of ova intended for the Otago Society was handed over to the officials qf the association. On arrival at Lyttelton the boxes of ova were immediately landed and conveyed to the gardens. The ova were then placed in the breeding box prepared for their reception, which is supplied with water from an artesian well by pipes so arranged as to modify the force of the stream. As might have been anticipated, from the transhipment of the ova, the .rough, weather experienced, and the unavoidable detention . _ at Melbourne, a small per-eentage has perished, but as far as can be at present ascertained, the remainder are in a' healthy condition, and Mr Johnson himself entertains no doubt of the successful hatching of fish. Besides the trout ova, Mr Johnson has brought a largeand valuable collection of objects of use and interest to the province. Mr M. Airport has proved himself a valuable coadjutor in the undertaking. Mr Johnson has succeeded in bringing with him some English, perch, and also some tadpoles. He has also in charge a deer from Tasmania, presented by Mr Graves. Amongst other importations will be found a species of water snail, which' possesses the property of feeding on decayed vegetable matter, and also affording an abundant supply of food for fish. From the Botanical Society of Tasmania Mr Johnson lias obtained a considerable number of seeds and plants. From the Melbourne Botanical Society he has been supplied with the American hickory, Dyospyrus Tirginiana, an American fruit and timber tree ; a specimen of a new and beautiful Queensland -palm, and a new variety of vine from" the same colony ; a plant of the. Australian mahogany .tree, the most- valuable timber tree grown there ; a Cork oak, a Norfolk Island pine, some Chinese^ tea-plants, and specimens of the blue and white waterhly. These are very easily cultivated, and from their I hardy character will no doubt soon form a prominent 1 ; feature in our lakes and rivers. They are readily acclimatized, and once planted require little or no attention. A few being placed intherrver would soon form a pleasing addition to the Government Domain, and to the gardens of the Acclimatization Society. There is no reason why the- Avon in Canterbury "should not in a short time' rival the Ouse in the number and beauty of these pretty and favorite aquatic plants. Mr Johnson has been presented by Messrs Grant and M'Millan, of Mel-bourne,-with some rare and curious seeds, amongst' which are those of the Locustbean, the Sesamwm indicum, a plant yielding a valuable oil, and which is used as food, and also medicinally ; the Pennicillaria spicita a cereal used as millet, and likely to suit the climate of Canterbury, and some new varieties of spinach from California. A few gold-fish have been contributed by the Melbourne Acclimatization Society, and some seeds of the Madagascar bean, by that of Dunedin. Some eggs of a fine breed of grey Dorking fowls have also been obtained. Mr Johnson has also brought seeds of the Lima bean, specimens of the China sugar grass— -Sorghum saccharatum, and of the Osage orange, a highly ornamental hedge•plant/ and one of very rapid growth. This "latter plant has recently come into vogue in Victoria ' for fences, where it forms a cattle-proof fence in a few years. Should the climate of Canterbury be favorable to its growth, it will prove a valuable acquisition tqsie province.