9

H.—l4a

As soon as your arrangements for the shipment of the ova are completed, I should be glad to be advised fully on the subject; and, as an expected consignment of fish ova requires a considerable amount of trouble to be taken, and of expense to be incurred in making preparations for its reception and distribution, I should be glad if you would send me notice of the actual shipment by telegraph, iv the manner suggested in my letter to you of the 21th February last. I have, <fee, G. S. Cooper, R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. (for the Colonial Secretary.)

No. 42. Mr. R. J. Ceeighton to the Hon. Mr. Macandrew. •Sir, — San Francisco, Ist September, 1879. In accordance with your instructions last year, I have arranged for an early shipment of whitefish ova on better terms than were then offered. Accompanying correspondence* will explain what I have done. I shall take every pains to have the eggs forwarded in prime condition. You will perceive that I have taken precautions to have instructions prepared for their hatching by Mr. Clark, who promises to send a model of his hatching-trough. I will telegraph the departure of the ova from San Francisco. I have, &c, Hon. J. Macandrew. Robt. J. Creighton.

No. 43. The Under Secretary to Mr. R. J. Creighton. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd October, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Colonial Secretary, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist ultimo, addressed to Mr. Macandrew, and to express to you the thanks of the Government for the trouble you are taking in arranging for auother shipment of whitefish ova from America, and for your endeavours to insure its proving successful. I have, &c., R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. G. S. Cooper.

No. 44. Mr. R. J. Creighton to the Hon. Mr. Macandrew. Office of the Post Publishing Company, 500, Montgomery Street, Sir, — San Francisco, 29th September, 1879. In continuation of my correspondence re whitefish, I beg to call your attention to the accompanying documents: — First: The Auckland Acclimatization Society refused to approve Mr. Craig's order, and I verbally released him from it. Second: I wrote to Mr. Clark apprising him of the fact, and, while continuing the order for two million eggs, put it to him whether he could not make a reduction oncost. In doing so, I bore in mind the interests of the colony, because, although he makes no reduction whatever, the price for two million is much lower than the original order for one million, with freight and expense of an agent added. The charge was to be 70 cents a thousand, with the expenses of Mr. Clark and freight paid. I have not since heard from him in reply, and 1 hardly think I shall in time for this mail. As I regard this matter as of more importance to New Zealand than the introduction of salmon, I am naturally anxious about it. Should Mr. Clark refuse to make any abatement in price, I shall order them, anyhow, and, should the Government disapprove of my action, let a calculation be made and charge me with any surplus over and above what one million eggs would have cost upon the original agreement. lam sending 40,000 eggs, as you will see by the accompanying letter, which I hope will add to the food supply of the colony. The economical gain of this fish is found in the fact that, while it is admirable for table fresh and adapted for curing, it lives in lakes and rivers, and therefore would be at the door of the miner and farmer in the centre of Otago, for example. However, I have received from Mr. Clark a most interesting and valuable letter upon the subject of fish culture, in its bearing upon the propagation of whitefish. This gentleman's father was the first man who ever propagated whitefish artificially, aud he has made it a speciality. Professor Baird referred me to him in the first instance for reliable information on the subject. His letter should be printed and sent to every acclimatization society in the colony, because, should ice be prepared to pack them in upon arrival and the distribution take place under favourable circumstances, nearly every section should be stocked with fish. The bulk, however, should be hatched out at Auckland, as suggested by Mr. Clark, to guard against accidents. I would also respectfully suggest that the accompanying article, with illustration, from the Scientific Manufacturer, together with Mr. Clark's address on the artificial breeding offish, or as much of it as may be pertinent to the subject, be printed along with his letter of advice. These documents throw a great deal of light upon the subject which those who have not experimented cannot know. In his letter Mr. Clark also says, referring to models of his patent fish-box, which accompany this letter, " I advise the use of this box, not for any pecuniary benefit it may be to me, but for the success of your Government in hatching the whitefish. The box is now largely used by States and private parties, and one of the largest hatching-houses in the United States is built on this plan (that of Ohio, at Toledo). The model 1 send you is for you or your Government, and I send it thus early hoping your Government may adopt it this season before the eggs arc sent. Any right I have iv the box I freely give the Government the use of." Now, in this matter I have to request, first, that, should you adopt this model, which is applicable to all kinds of fish, and preserves the largest possible number of fry, you shall cause duplicates to be

* For enclosures see H.-14, 1879. 2—II. 14a.