MR HUDDLESTON AND THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 207, 1 September 1868, Page 2

MR HUDDLESTON AND THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening JMail. Sir, — The Committee of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society having resolved on obtaining the ova of brown trout, and also any other fish that might be procurable in Tasmania, I offered my services, provided they could not find a better person to undertake the duty, which were accepted, , the : committee voting £250 for that purpose.

I started per Phoebe on Sunday the 9th of June, arriving in Melbourne on the 20th. I lost no time in visiting Mr Sprigg, the Secretary of the Victorian Acclimatisation Society, and was then introduced to Dr. Black, the President. I accepted his invitation to attend the next meeting of the Council, by whom I was received with the greatest courtesy. I gave them a full account of all we had done, and what was the object of my visit, the Council promising to assist me to the best of their power. I stated that what 1 most desired to obtain were Angora goats, hares, sparrows, with anything else they might have to dispose of. They shook their heads when I mentioned the goats, but promised to put our Society down for some as soon as they had any to spare. They then inquired what I had to give them in exchange ? I replied that New Zealand possessed nothing but what had already been introduced into their Society. They said they were anxious to obtain some pheasants, for which they would be happy to exchange other birds or animals. Accordingly, immediately on my return to my hotel, I wrote to Mr Greenfield at Nelson, and he most kindly at once forwarded three brace to Messrs Miles & Co, by whom they were presented to the Melbourne Society in our name, when they arrived during my absence in Tasmania. During my stay in Melbourne I visited all parties who had birds for sale, and hunted out persons who possessed Angora goats, but without success. On taking up tbe Argus, however, one morning, I observed an advertisement offering two for sale, which proved to be a pwre bred buck and a half bred ewe. These I immediately purchased, and then called upon another gentleman who kept them, and after a great deal of trouble he agreed to sell me two three-quarter bred ones, with one Cashmere pure bred ewe, on my return from Tasmania. To that colony I proceeded on the 4th July, going via Launceston, and taking coach to Hobart Town, where I arrived on the evening of the 7th. I left my letters of introduction, and called upon Mr Weaver, in order to engage his assistance in procuring the brown quail of Tasmania. In this, however, I completely failed, only one female bird being offered, which I would not accept unless I could obtain more. To compensate for this disappointment, I succeeded in getting two pairs of bronze- win ged pigeons, one black swan, aud two wallabies. Soon after my arrival I started to inspect the ponds upon the Plenty River, about 30 miles up the Derwent. This visit repaid me for all I had undergone. You see, both in the Plenty itself, and in the lead to the ponds, pairs of trout spawning and making their rip — not trout of a few inches in length, but fish of from 4to 121bs. in weight. The keeper caught me one which measured 19 inches ia length, and they caught one weighing 9|lbs., but returned both to the water. I I also saw some white trout and the parr of the salmon, which will go to the sea next month. With regard to the salmon, large fish have been seen in the gravel 25 miles above the mouth of the Plenty, and 60 miles from the sea, which they are confident'are salmon. The fish turned out have not returned to the Plenty, but have gone up to the head waters of the Derwent. The Salmon Commissioners, however, propose soon to set a net across the Derwent in order to prevent the spent fish from returning to the sea. I fear, as the river is very wide and the stream strong, that they will hardly succeed without great danger to their nets, all its tributaries being full of dead trees. I was compelled to remain at Hobart Town until Wednesday, the 12th of August, the steamers plying between that place and Melbourne only twice . a month during the winter months. I left the ponds at the Plently at 3.30 p.m. oa Monday the 10th, the box of ova being slung on a pole carried by two men, I walking by their side. We had six miles of it, and I was not sorry when I arrived at the hospitable mansion of the Hon.' Dr Officer, where I had the box placed under a gentle stream of water. I shall never forget the kindness I received from my host and his good lady. On the following Tuesday, at 7.30., I started with my charge, arriving at Hobart Town about 10.30. I then had it conveyed to Webb's Hotel, [the proprietor having had about

1501bs of snow 'humped' for me from Mount Wellington. I placed it in the bathroom^ with snow well packed over it, where I left it until my departure next day for Melbourne. The snow from Mount Wellington lasted me just 11 days, in fact, until I left Melbourne, where the Ice Company had manufactured mes6olbs of ice, and allowed me to leave my box in their ice-house until I left Melbourne. I also met with the most considerate kindness from the railway authorities, who gave me and my man a compartment in a first-class carriage to ourselves, and ako the use of trucks, for two days, tc transport all my birds and animals to the steamer's side. We left Melbourne on Friday, the 2 1st, at 4 p.m., arriving at Nelson, on Saturday last, at 7 a.m. I cannot close this letter without expressing my sense of the great kindness and attention which I received on every side, all classes vying with each other in assisting me to the best of their power. Though last, not least, I have to thank Captain Bax and the officers of the good steamer Rangitoto, for the valuable assistance they rendered me. I could not have selected a better vessel, for the motion of the screw under sail is almost imperceptible. The steamer is also very dry, and she has the advantage of having a spacious ' hurricane deck.' Subjoined is a list of birds, animals, &c, which I have brought to the province, with the number shipped, and also of those lost on the voyage. Yours, &c, Frederick Huddleston, Honorary Secretary of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society. August 31, 1868. Received. Landed. 800 ova of brown trout 750 good 27 perch 22 7 tench 3 5 Angora goats 5 2 hares 2 2 wallabies 1 2 Egyptian geese ... ... 2 1 black swan 1 3 Aylesbury ducks 2 17 sparrows 16 2 goldfinches 2 2 minah birds 2 9 Java doves 9 8 ring doves 8 6 bronze-wing pigeons ... „ . 6 3 silver spangled Hamburgs ... 3 SPolands 3 6 Houdins 6 3 dark Brahmas 3 3 Spanish ... 3 1 Cochin China cock 1 Tbees. — 12 Ailanthus glandulosa ; 4 China tea trees; 2 Coffee trees; 2 Cork trees; 2 Cinchonas. English water lily, water snails, and frog spawn, together with the seeds of the red barberry, tea tree, ailanthus, teazle, and water Uly.