THE SALMON EXPERIMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 738, 18 October 1867, Page 2

THE SALMON EXPERIMENT.

(From the Melbourne Argus.) ■-.

it is to be hoped that no mistake has occurred in connection with the efforts to acclimatise the salmon in the waters of Tasmania. We have long ago abandoned the idea that anything better than failure had resulted from the ill-judged, attempt to rear salmon from the ova placed in Badger Creek. When in the first heavy freshet in. that bed of mountain waters, the breeding places — boxes,, ova, gravel, and all— were swept down into the " overflowing " Tarra, it was evident that nothing more was to be an-, ticipated from that branch of the experi-. ment. The ova would never come to life. At best they would serve as a , titbit for the breakfast or supper of an acclimatised Murray cod, whom nature ; would teach to appreciate the novel food accident had brought him in contact with. It istrue that veracious anglershave protested, by all that is sacred in the eyes of -Waltoniahs, that they have Been fish leaping in the Tarra that they were certain were, young salmon. , _ A ; disciple* of the angle went sd far as to; assert that he had absolutely caught one, 1 and after submitting it4;6 the inspection of a skilled neighbor, hastily called to the scene, had restored it to the waters. It is also true that the blacks,- acclimatised to semi-civilised habits at the J res6rye near Watts' Creek, wer© reported to make prey last season, of numerous! fish AQt before kaows W:tfer^ r *i ®&

the Acclimatisation Society, hoping beyond hope, jumped to the conclusion that these reputed strangers were nothing less than young " lords of the river," genuine descendants of those silver-laced " monarchs" of the English rivers, whose praises it has been the pleasure of river poets to sing since time began. !^ut we fear Mr Sprigg was premature in the assurance at which he arrived; and that the police-he summoned -to assist him iir .the protection of'the little strangers, have found no work to do. Nothing has^sinee been heard of the_ Tarra salmon. The reports respecting them ceased as suddenly as they began. The veracious angler, whose Sunday morning's sports in Studley Park so unexpectedly eventuated' in the capture of a real young salmon of English parentage, has been incapable of repeating his capture ; and the blacks have not been able to furnish more testimony on the one side or the other. The fish they caught were probably brown trout, the produce of imported ova. That no salmon has returned to the Tarra from the sea, if ever a fry went down it to the waters of the bay, may be assumed almost too surely as a matter of fact. ;

'Have we any greater assurance that the experiment in Tasmania has been attended with more certain results ? We have been in the habit of felicitating ourselves that a very great and important work in acclimatisation bas been actually accomplished. It was assumed, in the great demonstration on the banks of the Shannon to Mr Youi, with which the G'alway papers made us acquainted the other day, that there was nothing more to do — that, in fact, the British salmon was now a colonist, and for all lime to come as much a Tasmanian fish as the trumpeter. We should be sorry to cast, without good reason, the smallest cloud on this fair prospect, or to damp in the slightest degree the enthusiasm of the gentlemen to whose patriotism and liberality we owe all that ha*s been done in this singularly interesting matter. But we must ask, if only to incite people to renewed exertions, on what evidence do we found the belief that the experiment is an entire success, and that we have nothing more to do than to fold our hands in idleness, and wait patiently to see what we shall see? We know that the ova placed in the ponds of the Plenty, came in due time, to life ; that in their season the tiny things became pari- ; that, in following their instincts, some went earlier than others from the shelter of the ponds of their childhood, to seek for the adventures of young salmon life, and that they were followed at a later season by the laggards, who also took a seaward coarse. But at this unsatisfactory stage, the positive testimony ceases. Nothing was seen or heard of the young fish on their passage, and nothing certain has been seen of them on their return. It is true that three or four gentlemen ha,ve testified that, about the time when the young grisle might be expected back from the sea, they sawfish leap in the Derwent, near its junction with the Plenty, which their recollection, extending back to days of boyhood, induced them to believe were young salmon. This, however, is very vague evidence on which to base any superstructure cf hopes. Were the fish which were seen to leap acclimatised brown trout, which had come down from the Plenty, or were they grilse seeking the river of their nativity fbr spawning purposes ? It is difficult to answer the question. It would be hard', indeed, for a person who had not, mayhap for forty years, seen either a big healthy brown trout or a very young salmon — pink, whitling, or whatever else you may call him— rethrow himself from the water in chase of a fly, to.distinguish between their leaps, or to say from the curl on the surface of the river whether it was made by the one fish or the other. We know that Mr Rams* bottom has "netted large-sized trout not far from, if not in, the reach of . the river where the supposed salmon were seen to leap, and it is, therefore open to us, to conjecture that the fish which were supposed to be grilse returning from the sea were only large brown trout in search of flies. Nets have been kept in readiness to enfold, for identity's sake only, any forerunner of his race who might find his way up the Derwent and into the Plenty ; but the watchers on the banks have not yet been rewarded by the capture of a single genuine grilse.

We may express a hope from these premises that over confidence in the success of what has been done will not induce the acclimatisers to suppose that their work in this matter is fully accomplished. The natural enemies of the salirion are not more numerous in Tasmania than in British waters. But, after all, the number of salmon fry that went seawards to change their condition was but small, considering the risks to be run. The introduction of the ova from the fish of British rivers should be continued season after season till success is assured. It is obvious now that for some time to come 7 New ; Zealand, as well as Victoria, must wait for the supplies of bya they expected from the fish presumed to ke accM&ti&ed ia the Pwweoiti

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about 50s per lOOlbs ; ditto, mutton, 5d per lb ; calves*; "s'afee, at from £4 to £5 10 ; Lambs, good quality; 15s to 17s 6d. ..Store Stock. — We have few transactions to g iide us, aiid quote following nominal prices for sheep . : Ewes, 2, 4, nnd 6-tooth, at !B's to 19s ; Lnmbs, equal sexes, 22s to 23s per pair North, and 25s to 26s per pair South ; vrethers, 6-tooth to' full mouth, at 14s to 15s, with good demand for paddocks. Store cattle are scarce, and in good demand, and good lots are saleable at about „€S for mixed herds, and £9 to £10 for 3 to 5 year old bullocks. Dairy Cows continue very saleable at £15 to £20. Horses. — The only arrival of importance during the month has been that df the Omeo, from Melbourne, with 108 head, chiefly heavy draught horses — all of which sold readily, at remunerative prices — say, for mares and geldings, according to stump, £65 to £75. Some superior geldings, imported by Mr Strachan, realised the latter high figure. There is a brisk demand for really good draught stock, and this is likely to increase as the wool season approaches. Good weight-carrying hacks are also in demand, and scarce. A moderate shipment of this description would result satisfactorily to the importer. Our present quotations are : — First-class draught mares and geldkus, £55 to £75 ; medium do do, £40 to £50; first-class weight-carrying hacks, £27 to £40; ordinary and inferior do, £15 to £25. Country Sales. — Our usual monthly sales of cattle, horses, &c, will be held at Lovell's Flat and Clutha Ferry, on 10th and llth inst., respectively. Pure Stock. — We would draw special attention to the fact, that George Murray, Esq., of the Grange, East Taieri, has determined upon disposing of the whole of his pure-bred Leicester sheep and short-horn cattle, by public auction, early in the new year. Stations. — We have no transactions to report. There are several buyers in the market, with but few desirable properties offering. After shearing we expect several will be placed in the market. Wool. — Our Engh'sh advices to the lst of August via Panama, reached us on the 29th uit. Arrivals for the August series of sales, wliich it was expected would commence on the 23rd of that month, would probably amount to 160,000 bales. Business continued very dull, and notwithstanding money was unpreeedentedly easy, and the pr- spects of the harvest fair, no improvement on June rates was looked for. Shearing will begin here about the end of next month ; but Fellmonger's parcels are now coming forward more freely. Sheepskins. — We have no sales of importance to report. The month's skins arc saleable at 3s 9d to 4s. Hides remain unchanged, very few offering. Taliow bas suffered a further reduction, and we now quote fair sorts at £25 to £27 per ton. Christchttech. — The Press of the 7th says : — Our markets continue dull, stocks being on the increase, and the few sales that have taken place being almost of a retail character. Prices, however, are without any material change, if we except woolpacks, whicli are now quoted at a shade lower — viz., 5s 3d. The fourth of the month passed off without much assistance, trade acceptances being generally well uiet. We have to note an almost cessation of failures during the week. In breadstuffs there is no change to report beyond late quotations being firmly maintained. Barley is in moderate demand at Jast week's prices. Oats are oflered freely, the stocks held being large ; but buyers are chary of investing, excepting at nominal rates ; buyers are offering ls'lOd to 2s per bushel, holders asking 4d to 6d advance on those rates. Wellington. — The Independent of the Bth reports : — Goods disposed of by auction during the past month, have realized better prices than formerly, but in many instances importers have submitted to losses. Froji advices received by last mail, we are afraid that on arrival of excessive shipments that, for some months to come, our stocks will exceed requirements. The 4th of the month passed over satisfactorily, and engagements are regularly met. The Asterope arrived Irom London on the 19th ultimo, and is now discharging her cargo in good order. She is advertised as the fiist wool ship. Auckland. — The Southern Cross, in its review of the month, says : Business during the paßt month has been unusual! y* quiet, doubtless occasioned in a very great decree by the want of confidence' in commercial circles, and the non-arrival of the Panama mail, with heavy bills of lading of goods in transitu. Stocks are heavy of wineS 1 r and spirits. Ales and stouts of common brands are at present a drug in the market ; but good brands of stout are very scarce. Oilmen's stores are in demand, and groceries are plentiful in supply. There has been a steady export of New Zealand flax during the month to the Australian Colonies ; aud supplies are expected to be regularly received in future from several parties of flaxdressers, who have commenced operations in different parts of the Province. A large number of failures and compositions with creditors have occurred during the month. Nelson.— The Colonist reports : — We regret that there is still no improvement to report in the state of trade. The general dullness remains the same as it has been ior seme months past, if indeed it be not worse than before, as regards the business of the town. Stocks are pretty full, and are being added to by the cargo of the Cissy, now in course of discharging. Hokitika. — The West Coast Times of the 7th inst. notes an unusually quiet week in the import market; very slight -additions having been made to stocks, owing to very unfavorable weather keeping several heavy cargoes in the roadstead. Business during the week has been fairly active ; a considerable quantity of heavy goods having been sent to the local goldfields, but no material alteration can be noted in market values. Eiour shows a tendency to improve, and cereals gonerally are firmer In wines and spirits there has not been much activity. Eirst-class fngtish ale has been more inquired for; but no improvement on our last quotations can be realized. Should the weather prove xnore propitious, considerable activity may be anticipated. The import duties collected during the week amount to £1115 8s 6d. G-beyjiottth. — The Argus of the sth reports :— The unsettled and stormy weather that has prevailed during the last few days has materially interfered with the ordinary course of business, and transactions have been limited in consequence. Stocks of most kind of goods are lower now than they have been for a considerable time past, tut this has had little effect "oa prices, 4/MtiQnal

supplies, however, are to hand, as the Clarendon, anil probably one or two other vessels from Melbourne, are outside ready to be towed in ,as soon as the weather moderates. For Colonial produce the following quotations may be given :— Potatoes, £7 j oats, 4s; chaff £10 to £17 ; butter, prime, ls 3d to 3ssd; flour, Adelaide, £19 ; do Canterbury, £18. Meibottrne. — A telegram of the 29th uit., in the Sydney Serald, reports : — 200. tons of Geelong flour sold at £11 10s ; 100. bales' of cornsacks sold at 12s, with an upward tendency ; Patna rice is quoted at £27.