EL—l4a,

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

CALIFORNIA SALMON AND WHITEFISH OVA (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. R. J. Creighton to the Hon. Mr. Macandrew. Sib, — San Francisco, 28th October, 1878. I have the honor to state, in reply to your letter of 17th August, re whitefish eggs, that I forwarded it to Mr. Clark, Northville, Michigan, and placed myself in communication with Professor Baird, and Mr. Redding, one of the California State Fish Commissioners. Their replies accompanying this letter will show the difficulties in the way of carrying out Mr. Clark's original offer, so far as personal attention to the eggs on the overland journey is concerned. In my letter to Mr. Clark I stated that the New Zealand Government would pay the express charges on the eggs, although not specially mentioned in your letter, inasmuch as that was part of his original offer, and I did not wish to have it included in the bill of personal expenses. You will perceive that he cannot, for the reasons stated by himself and Professor Baird, come through this season, and I have written to say that I cannot, without specific instructions, vary the conditions on that point. An hour's neglect might fatally injure the eggs. Should, however, the Government think the ova should come through, a telegram will be in time, otherwise it will be too late this season. My own opinion is to continue the order till next year, and if the California Fish Commissioners do not join us in Clark's personal expenditure, defray it by the colony. The difference would be insignificient as compared with the results should the ova arrive sound and be hatched out. Be good enough to advise me upon these points by return mail, if not by cable. I have, &c., The Hon. .1. Macandrew. Robt. J. Creighton.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. Redding to Mr. R. J. Creighton. Dear Sir, — San Francisco, 13th September, 1878. I have written to Mr. Clark, at Northville, Michigan, to see what he can bring for us other than whitefish eggs at the time he will be ready to come over with your consignment. If arrangements can be made by which the State can get carp, eels, and lobsters, we will cheerfully pay one-third of his expenses. Yours, Ac, R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. B. B. Redding.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Hon. Spencer F. Baird to Mr. R. J. Creighton. United States Commission, Fish and Fisheries, Dear Sir, — Washington, D.C., 21st September, 1878. I am duly in receipt of your letter of the 11th of September, in regard to procuring a supply of one million of eggs of the whitefish for the Government of New Zealand. I expect Mr. Clark here in a day or two, and will then confer with him as to the conditions you propose. I am a little doubtful whether he will consider them sufficiently favourable to himself, especially as the Fish Commission of Nevada does not propose to ask for any eggs this season. I I—H. 14a.