THE TASMANIAN FISH-PONDS

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 148, 21 January 1868, Page 2

THE TASMANIAN FISH-PONDS

(From the Launceston Examiner). At this season of the year a trip to the Plenty may not only be pleasant but highly interesting. Starting at an early hour from Hobart Town, you may reach New Norfolk in time for breakfast, and, allowing your own horses to rest, a spring cart with a mare that knows every foot of the way may be hired, in which to perform the after part of the up journey. Passing Bridgewater you still keep the right bank of the Derwent. The road runs close to the river, and is edged on both hands with svveetbriar bushes in full bloom, exhaling a grateful odour, and beautiful to the eye. At every turn a new landscape presents itself, with a reach of the river looking like a lake as the most conspicuous feature. Large numbers of parrots and other bush birds were started every few yards, indicating that those desperate sportsmen, who spare nothing from an eaglehawk to a tomtit, had not invaded with hostile intent those peaceful solitudes. The left bank of the Derwent is much more bold and abrupt than the right, and the stratification of the rocks is as distinctly visible as if a section had been artificially cut. The Dromedary, between New Norfolk and Pontville, had an extensive patch of snow upon its summit. New Norfolk is twenty-one miles distant from Hobart Town, prettily situated, distinguished by its extensive hop grounds, has been _ proclaimed a municipality, and contains a population of between 800 and 900. From this township to the piscicultural establishment on the Plenty the distance is four or five miles. "Where there is no danger the road is partly fenced, but at two places of some extent where the peril is evident, no protection whatever is afforded to travellers. The road being about a hundred feet above the river, and the bank perpendicular, a restless or startled horse would be likely to plunge himself, vehicle, and freight at one bound into the Derwent, when a coroner's inquest would be necessary. It is true residents are accustomed to drive along these unprotected roads, and "think nothing of it;" but strangers of considerable nerve have shown timidity in passing along, and have preferred walking to riding. The site selected for the pond is admirably adapted for the purpose, but it ought to have been at least twice the length. The land is leased from Mr. Reid, of Red Hills, for a term of fourteen years, five of which have expired. The Plenty is a lively stream, and falls into the Derwent about a mile and a-half below Mr. Ramsbottom's cottage. The water ' is let into the ponds by a race from the Plenty, which is divided, as the current would otherwise be too strong for the young fish, and divisions are made by perforated tin, separating the trout from its spawn, the salmon trout, and the par and smolt of the salmon proper. These latter are at the end of the race communicating with the Plenty by means of a spout, the fall being three or four feet. It is a provision of nature that the salmon shall not all reach the same stage the same year; the smolts take to the river while the par remain until they have attained smoltship. Mr. Ramsbottom had excellent opportunities this season of watching the deposit of ova by the fish themselves. The female with her tail, and assisted by the stream, in a suitable locality, where the water is shallow, but with a good rush of water on each side, moves the stones and deposits the eggs into every opening. The par naturally hatched and those artificially hatched were equally lively and healthy. The collection of trout, weighing from one to three and a-half pounds in the largest ponds were particularly active, and not at all shy. When a handful of gentles were thrown into the water there was a desperate r ush to secure the bait, which, like

Daniel's enemies, were devoured before they got to the bottom. Mr. Ramsbo torn is not only master of lis business, but he has displayed consider ib'e taste iu laying out and stocking h's garden with choice plants and flowers, and ho has planted trees which will soon yield a grateful shade to the fiVh in the ponds and races. Mr. R. entertains no doubt of the complete success of the salmon experiment. He has seen the salmon close to the surface, pursuing the native fish as only the King of fishes can do. There are wellauthenticated instances in which the salmon with their peculiar leap have been observed ; but the Derwent is a river, and there are plenty of hiding-places for ten times thenumrer that can under the most favorab e circumstances have returned from the sea. What may be seen on a small scale at the acclimatising gardens at Paris, and on a larger scale at those places in Britain and France where ova are regularly hatched for the pur pose of re-stocking streams, can now be seen at the Plenty, and the fish from the tiny thing of scarcely an inch long to the bold and dashing trout weighing between three and four pounds. As a new industry, salmon fishing and curing may become an important business, and the name of Mr. J. A.. Youl must ever be associated with the enterprise, as to his perseverance and energy the colonists are indebted for the imported salmon and trout that now sport in our waters.