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Enclosure. The Honoeaey Secretary, Otago Acclimatization Society to the Honorary Secretary, Southland Acclimatization Society. Dear Sir, — Dunedin, Ist June, 1887. In reply to your wire of this date, I have to advise you that the Council of our society had the matter under consideration yesterday. We are of opinion that the river most suitable for turning out the young salmon is the Molyneux. This river is in direct and unimpeded communication with Lakes Wanaka and Hawea. In its course it receives innumerable tributaries, many of them in themselves important rivers eminently suited both for spawning- and fishing-requirements. The main river, as well as several of its tributaries, are most conveniently situated as regards railwaycommunication. Further, our hatchery is in direct communication with it. We have simply to allow the fish to escape from the ponds, neither cartage nor railage being required. This, in the case of two-year-old fish, is an important matter. We are strongly of opinion that the success of the experiment would be greatly imperilled by turning out the young salmon a year or so before they are ready to go to sea. During that year their numbers would be very much reduced by the many enemies they would meet with. We propose keeping them until they assume their smolt-livery, which they do at from eighteen months to two years old. When liberated at this stage they are likely to go straight to sea, and, being then of a considerable size, they are better able to take care of themselves. The above are some of the reasons which have guided us in our choice of a river. I have, &c, James Wilkie, Honorary Secretary. Aaron Black, Esq., Honorary Secretary, Southland Acclimatization Society.

No. 52. The Secretary, Lakes District Acclimatization Society, to the Secretary, Marine Department. Sir, — Office, Lakes District Acclimatization Society, Queenstown, 7th June, 1887. I have the honour herewith to enclose copy of our curator's report on the whitefish-ova consigned to this society. I am glad to state that some of the young fry are often seen in Lake Wakatipu, and they appear to be thriving very well. I have, &c, H. Nelson Firth, Secretary, Lakes District Acclimatization Society. The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington.

Enclosure. The Curator to the Secretary, Lakes District Acclimatization Society. Sib, — Queenstown, Ist June, 1887. I have the honour to furnish the following report re whitefish-ova consigned to the Lakes. District Acclimatization Society : — The whitefish-ova arrived in Queenstown on the night of the Bth February, 1887, and were placed in the boxes on the 9th, the temperature of the water being 47°, lowered from 50° by ice. I was able to keep the temperature at 47° for two days with ice; after this, when the ice was finished, the temperature remained at 50°, and never rose higher. Some of the fry were moving in the boxes on the 10th, but the greater portion died in the egg, not more than 50,000 hatching out of the 920,000 ova. When unpacking the ova it was found that too much pressure had been used, making the ova stick together in one mass; the ova, however, looked perfectly healthy, and were all alive, but it was impossible to separate them. If the ova had not been so far advanced there would have been a much greater chance of success. When the fry were fifteen days old I observed the sac absorbed on most of them. I liberated about six thousand in Lake Wakatipu on the 28th February. On the sth March about twenty thousand were liberated in Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, under the supervision of L. Hislop, Esq., Vice-Chairman of the society. I then began to feed those remaining on bullock's blood. They appeared to thrive well on it for a time—say, for about a month; after that the fry appeared to be not thriving so well. I therefore liberated the whole of them in Lake Wakatipu about the 31st March. lam glad to inform you that the fry have been seen on several occasions, and are doing very well apparently, being long. I consider they are established, -without a doubt this time. I have liberated quite fifty thousand in healthy condition. I have, &c, Eobeet Davidson, Curator. H. Nelson Firth, Secretary, Lakes District Acclimatization Society, Queenstown. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,435 copies), £19 J

By Authority: Obobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.