ACCLIMATISATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3826, 29 May 1875, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

Mr Johnson, curator of the Canterbury AccliSociety, reporting on the results of the late shipment of ova by the Timarn, says: —“ The question, therefore, still remains unsettled as to whether freezing in a dry state destroys or simply retards vitality. Several improvements were noticeable, with regard to the boxes, in the present shipment, especially which were charred inside, and fitted with trays, so that a very much larger number of eggs, could be sent without danger of injury from the weight of sodden dead moss. The ice ; which was artificial, was found to be united in one solid block, only a small proportion of which was melted. ' Should any future attempts on a similar plan be made of introducing salmon and other varieties of trout, either from England or America, the urato r would suggest that a most important desideratum would be the construction of an ice-house possessing the following advantages : -Ist. Size just sufficient to hold ice enough to keep through the voyage, and, at the same time, to be portable. By this plan, in addition to other advantages, two shipments might be sent out from England at no more expense than one large one. 2nd. The house to be constructed with a top opening to admit the ice, and also one at the side for the boxes, the iee resting on a perforated false bottom; this would enable the boxes to be packed and removed without subjecting the ova to injury from concussion during the storing and breaking out of the ice. 3rd. Inside arrangements to be such that no offensive o dour can injure the eggs, Whilst provision is made for the escape of the melted ice. ' 4th. Arrangements in construction of house, both inside and out side, to prevent injury to the eggs from contrassion. The experience of this and other shipments leads to the conviction that the reason why so very small a proportion of even goodlooking ova ewer reaches the antipodes, lies in the fact that no suitable provision has ever been made against < injury by concussion at the early and most critical period of the egg life, such, for instance, as the concussion occasioned by the loading of the ice and the bumping of the vessel during rough weather. With aview to properly carrying out all the details of construction as suggested from actual experience, it would probably be well worth the additional cost of freight and material to have the icehouse made in the Colony.