NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1413, 22 November 1886, Page 3

NOTES.

We sincerely hope that the Herald is correct in asserting that “ a splendid specimen of the Californian salmon” has been caught in Timaru harbor, and that “ another got into the net a few minutes afterwaids, but escaped,” as, if so, the fact goes far to demonstrate that the work of acclimatising this splendid fish has been satisfactorily acccomplished. There have for years past been repeated endeavours on the part of the Acclimatisation Societies to stock the rivers of the colony with that most valuable of all fishes, the salmon, and only now and then have we heard of a solitary specimen of the true salmon being found as the result, although many acores of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of young fry have been liberated. Indeed, considerable sums of money have been expended in the endeavour, but if only success be achieved, what has been expended, even though it had been twenty times as much, would be a mere bagatelle to the results that may be looked for. For the matter is not by any means to be looked at as solely an angler’s question—that is to say as a means of providing splendid sport for the knights of the rod and reel—it is of the utmost importance from an economic point of view, and may mean an important addition to our food supply, and one day a large item in the list of our industries and exports. For although the Californian salmon is not the salmo salar —the salmon of English waters, of the Wye and the Severn, and of the rivers of Scotland—but what is known ichthyologically as salmo quinnat, yet it is, if we mistake not, the selfsame fish which, under the name of American or Californian salmon, forms so large an item of export from America to all countries of the world, and affords employment to thousands of hands in catching, canning, and curing, and represents an annual trade extending to many millions of dollars. One swallow does not make a summer, and one, nay two salmon at Timrru may not mean that we are soon to catch our salmon by thousands. Yet the circumstance recorded gives room to hope that this pleasant result may not be far distant. But is the fish the veritable salmo quinnat ? We sincerely hope it is, but in several previous reported captures it has turned out upon due enquiry that different species of trout have been ipistaken for the king of fish, and it is to be hoped that the Timaru capture will be submitted to the verdict of cornpetent scientific authority, so that we may be assured that we are this time safe in congratulating our acclimatjsts upon the greatest achievement that have yet made.

HORSE MARKET.

Mr T. Bullock reports for the fortnight ending iSaturday, 2<3th November : On Saturday 13th, 19 ho sea w-re entered for tie day’u e.ls. Thar* waabout an average attendance, but to account cf a large number of 'he ho«rs offering being of an inferior d soript'ot.'. It was difficult to effect sa Its. Neva tr.e-O's out of the 19 offered. 11 were nold at th. following pr'c.'-', via., Aged me Man draughts, £8 fit to £10; light ban em lorses, £5 5a t £9 15* ; hacks, £2 10 t £ r >, accordint to de-c:ip*ion. On S a u d.,y 20th, 17 horsos were booked for Mu day’s sale, hut on : y a small p-oponio. changed the re erves placed on h* infedor h rs«o by as lers prenn’o'l aa'ec being affected It. wou'd be well if of this class of stock were to accept mars reasonable prices.

PROPERTY SALES

Mr T. Bullock r-pors:—Previous to the usual weekiy bor e sale, I offered. t>. number r>t suburban Tiowald prone ties, country township sections and >ural Bud, whin the fallowing sales were effect-d. v'z . about acres on the nodh side of tle railway, J’inwald, and tc own as p>rif ’h - Poplar Pft.ldoek, at £37 per acre Lot 3, containing 4a 3r 3lp, pan of G'tw barm Estate, fronting the river, at £l9 per acre. Lota 191, 192, 193, corralning 3a 3r 22p, fronting the river, at £l7 10s per acre. Fcr y—eight acres near the hills, in the Methveu district, at 29i per acre. Also privately, dating the month, Lots and 28 containing 10a lr Ulp. and 9a 3r 36p reaped ively, Or vs Farm E ita*e at £2O per acre Part of Lot 16 J. containing 4a 3t Op. in the Alumton suburbah district, for £235. Lot 47, fronting the Alford Forest Road, £4’). Part of L t 43, about $-acre. froming the Alford F rest Hoad, £2B. Town section, 334, £-aore, M ore street, with a small coitage thereon, £l3O