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would advise you to have a conference with Mr. Redding, as to his willingness to share the expenses of the shipment of the eggs under the charge of a suitable messenger, and report to me the result. Mr. Clark will be employed by me for some time in the artificial hatching of codfish on the coast of New England. Whether he will have finished this work in time for service in propagation of whitefish is a matter of some uncertainty. I have, <&c, Spenceb F. Baird, R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. Commissioner.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Mr. F. N. Clark to Mr. R. J. Creighton. My ueah Sib, — Gloucester, Mass., 6th October, 18 78. lam here at this point, assisting Professors Baird and Milner in the cod-work. We intend to hatch the eggs of the codfish. Now, about the whitefish eggs. Professor Baird tells me the California and Nevada Company are not willing to enter into the arrangement we talked of, but wish their consignment of eggs sent through by express as usual. Now, unless they change their minds, what will be done about the lot for New Zealand? I think I can pack them so there will not be any risk, so far as San Francisco, if the express messengers would only do their duty ; or I might go with them as far as Omaha, which would make the expense very light, and at Omaha I could give the messengers instructions how to handle them. Please write me about this, and instruct me what to do. Perhaps, if you would see Mr. Redding and talk with him, it would be well. I have, &c, R. J. Creighton, Esq. Fuank N. Clark.

No. 2. Mr. Conyees to Mr. R. J. Creighton. Sik,' — Christchurch, December, 1878. I am directed by the Minister for Public AVorks to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th October relative to salmon ova, and, in reply, to say that, as the ova ordered through you some time ago will be too late for this season, the Government will be glad if you will be good enough to continue it for next year. I have, &c, R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. W. Conyees.

No. 3. The Hon. Spencer F. Baird to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. United States Commission. Fish and Fisheries, Sib,— AVashington, D.C., 11th December, 1878. I am duly in receipt of your letter of the 21st October last, and, in reply, beg to express my regret at the failure of the negotiations on the part of your Agent with Mr. Clark for a supply of the eggs of whitefish. It being considered very desirable that the eggs should be accompanied to San FVaucisco by Mr. Clark, and placed on board the steamer in the best possible manner, Mr. Creighton stipulated that part of the expense should be borne by the States of California and Nevada, which he supposed contemplated obtaining a supply of ova. The negotiations, however, fell through, and Mr Creighton was, apparently, unwilling to charge the Government of New Zealand with the entire cost, and nothing was done in the premises. Mr. Clark had a very fine stock of healthy eggs, which I have taken for distribution by the Fish Commission to various points in the United States. 1 have, &c, Spencer F. Baird, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Commissioner.

No. 4. Mr. R. J. Creighton to the Hon. Mr. Macandrew. Sir, — San Francisco, 23rd December, 1878. I have received a letter from Mr. Clark offering to send the fish eggs, chancing payment, should they succeed, and have taken the responsibility of ordering them to be forwarded upon those terms. You will be good enough, therefore, to take measures for receiving them by the steamer sailing in January, by which occasion I will more fully advise. Mr. Clark had saved the eggs on the original understanding with the Government, and would entirely lose his market were they not to be taken by New Zealand. I would impress upon you the necessity for hatching out the eggs at the nearest point of arrival, otherwise the failure, if any, could not be traceable to the eggs. I shall draw upon the Government for the express charges, ice, &c, and forward vouchers, also bills from Mr. Clark, to whom draft should be made payable, as it is a private transaction, and not directly through the United States Fish Commission. I have, &c., The Hon. J. Macandrew, Wellington. Robert J. Creighton.