I).—No. 2.

12

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION

distant period afford the means of stocking all the rivers of the Colony into which it may be considered proper to introduce them. The great undertaking of introducing the salmon and trout into Tasmania has now, the Commissioners believe, been successfully accomplished; and they trust they are not premature or too sanguine in congratulating your Excellency, and the Colony on this auspicous event, which cannot fail at no distant time, to exert a very beneficial influence on the interests and resources of the Australian Colonies. Eew countries of the same extent possess more rivers suited to the nature and habits of this noble fish than Tasmania. A stranger acquainted with the salmon rivers of Europe could scarcely behold the ample stream and sparkling waters of the Derwent without fancying that they were already the home of the king of fish. And the Derwent is but one of many other large and ever-flowing rivers almost equally suited to become the abode of the salmon. When these rivers have been stocked, they cannot fail to become a source of considerable public revenue, and of profit and pleasure to the people. Where so many have assisted in obtaining this important boon for the Colonies, it is difficult to particularize all those to whom it is indebted for their disinterested services. The untiring zeal and indefatigable exertions of Mr. Youl stand forth conspicuous, and have been mainly instrumental in bringing the present experiment to a successful issue. The noble liberality of Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons has been already dwelt on ; and those gentlemen, the Commissioners are aware, have received the well-merited thanks of your Excellency's Government. To those noblemen, gentlemen, and others, who rendered such important and timely aid to Mr. Youl in his arduous labours, the thanks of the Commissioners, and of the whole Colony, are duo. A special vote of thanks has been transmitted by the Commissioners to Mr. Robert Ramsbottom, of Clitheroe, for the untiring interest he has long manifested in the attempts to introduce tho salmon into Australia, of which he has given practical proof by his hearty co-operation with Mr. Youl, and the free use of his practical skill and experience in promoting the success of the experiment. The Commissioners have felt it to be their duty, with the sanction of the Government, to present pieces of plate, with an expression of their thanks, to Captain Tonkin, of the "Norfolk;" to Air. Carpenter, his chief officer; and to Captain Norman, of Her Majesty's Colonial steamship the "Victoria," in acknowledgment of the deep interest displayed by them in the success of the undertaking, and their efforts to secure the rapid transport of the salmon ova from London to Melbourne, and Melbourne to Tasmania, upon which their safety in a great degree depended. This Colony is under deep obligations to the Government and Parliament of Victoria, and to the President and Alembers of the Acclimatization Society, for their disinterested assistance. Towards the expenses of the experiment by the " Beautiful Star," the liberal sum of five hundred pounds was cheerfully contributed from the Public Treasury of that Province: and, on the recommendation of tho Acclimatization Society, a similar amount was granted in aid of the second experiment, together with the use of the fine steamship " Victoria." The importance of this latter service can hardly be too highly estimated. It supplied a link in the progress of the experiment which had caused the Commissioners much anxiety. The value and disinterestedness of these services are enhanced by the fact that, at the time they were rendered, the faintest hope only existed that Victoria would be benefitted by the success of the undertaking except in a very secondary degree. It is only lately that the idea of acclimatizing the salmon in some of the rivers of that Colony has been entertained ; and tho Commissioners will hear with much pleasure that this reasonable expectation has been fulfilled. They rejoice to learn that nearly 300 healthy young salmon have been produced from the few boxes of ova left in the hands of the Acclimatization Society; and it will be their first duty, as some acknowledgment of the generous aid they have received from Victoria, to render every assistance in their power towards the early stocking of the rivers of that great Colony fitted to become the homes of the salmon and trout. Since the process of hatching was completed, the mortality among the young fishes, both salmon and trout, has been very insignificant, and has been almost entirely confined to a small number of the former that came forth from the egg with crooked spines or some other deformity. They have grown considerably, and present every characteristic of vigorous health. The Commissioners have no reason to doubt that the young parr will in due season attain to the condition of complete salmon, fulfil the long-cherished hopes of the Colony, and make an ample return for all the expense and labour incurred in introducing them. They entertain every confidence that, under the guidance of their unerring instincts, they will, when the proper time arrives, proceed to and return from the sea in safety, and in their journey will meet with no enemies more formidable than those to which their progenitors have been exposed in the waters of Great Britain. Notwithstanding the success, however, that has already been achieved, the Commissioners are unanimously of opinion that at least one more importation of ova should be undertaken without loss of time. It is not probable that the young fish now in the ponds will produce any spawn, by which their numbers may be multiplied, until a period of from two to three years has elapsed, and thus much time will be lost in fully stocking the rivers of the Colony unless a further supply of ova be obtained. The whole expense of another importation would not, the Commissioners believe, exceed £800 ; which, divided among the various Colonies, which they have every reason to believe would contribute towards the expense of another importation of ova to Tasmania, from which as a centre they will be distributed to the surrounding Colonies at a very trifling additional cost, and without any risk of failure, would prove a very insignificant; burden to any of them. The undertaking can no longer be regarded as an experiment, but as a commercial transaction, to be carried out with results varying only in amount. Considerable as has been the success on the present occasion, the Commissioners believe that the additional experience which has been gained by Air. Youl in England, and by themselves and their intelligent Superintendent, Mr. AY. Ramsbottom, in this Colony, would ensure still more favourable results from a renewed importation of ova. Of all the Australian Colonies. New Zealand possesses a climate most nearly resembling that of