H.—ll

5

About 95 per cent of these hatched out, and, though the occurrence of a fresh in the Mangakahia river interfered somewhat with the success of the enterprise, I have no doubt that a very fair measure of success has been attained. I enclose—l.—Duplicate receipt from Mr. Myron Green, for 750d015. paid by Mr. Creighton to United States Fish Commission, for package and transit charges of 500,000 salmon ova ; and 2.—Letter from Professor Spencer F. Baird confirming same. For this sum Mr. Creighton drew upon me, w 7hich I honored, and was subsequently refunded a Hke amount by the Treasury at Wellington—£l64 Is. 3d, I have to thank you for the very efficient aid you have rendered me in the distribution of the halfmillion ova, I have, <fee, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary, Wellington. J. C. Firth.

No. 17. Frederick Huddleston, Esq., to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Nelson, 7th January, 1878. I have the honor to report for the information of the Government the success that has so far attended the introduction of American salmon ova into the rivers of this district. The ova arrived from San Francisco on the evening of Sunday, the 4th of November. On Monday morning I opened the box said to contain 50,000. I found eight layers, each about a quart, and packed between a thin material like scrim, and each layer separated by moss. I caused all the dead eggs to be picked out (about 1,500). The sound ones were then put into the hatching ponds, and the ponds covered with boards to protect the eggs from the sun. On Friday, the 9th November, the first fish made its appearance, and by Monday, the 19th all were hatched out, with the exception of about 1000 bad eggs. They were thus left undisturbed until the Bth December, when, finding they had begun to feed, I caught about half of them and turned them into the Wairoa river, close by the railway bridge. On the following Saturday, 15th December, the remainder were caught and placed into two large tin-lined cases, and sent by rail to Fox Hill, from which place they were taken by spring conveyances over Spooner's range, a distance of about fourteen miles, and placed into the Motueka river, with a loss only of about fifteen on the road. I estimate the total number turned out at about 25,000, and the bad ova at about 2,500. It will thus be seen that the box contained little more than half the estimated quantity, viz., 50,000. The ova was certainly most carefully and beautifully packed, and the arrangements for supplying ice were exceedingly good. Great credit is due to the shippers, and it would be well if Dr. Buckland and others in England interested in the acclimatization of fish would take a lesson in packing ova from our American friends. In conclusion, I hope the Government will continue the good work so well commenced, until salmon is established in New Zealand waters beyond a doubt, and our rivers well stocked. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Frederick Huddlestone, Hon. Sec. Nelson Acclimatisation Society.

No. 18. Mr. W. Arthur to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Dunedin, 16th December, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that the box of American salmon ova (supposed 50,000) arrived here safely by the Taupo on* the 7th, and contents transferred to the breeding boxes of the Otago Acclimatisation Society with as little delay as possible. The supply of ice was not exhausted, and the ova were in very good condition, only four or five per cent having gone bad. I am sorry, however, to say that after being four days in the hatching boxes many of them died, but others are healthy, and some are hatching out. The Society will be glad to hear soon as to when the supply of whitefish ova may be expected for our lakes. Our accommodation is limited, and besides the salmon ova we have a great number of young trout recently hatched out still in the hatching boxes. I have, <tc, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. W. Arthur, Acting-Secretary Otago Acclimatisation Society.

No. 19. The Hon. J. A. R. Menzies to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary Sir, — Wyndham, 25th January, 1878. I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Howard reports that he has placed the following numbers of Californian salmon fry in the rivers named : — In the Oreti ... ... ... ... ... 35,000 Waipahi ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 Makarewa ... ... ... ... ... 18,000 Total 63,000