TASMANIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 265, 4 May 1860, Page 3

TASMANIA.

{From the Cornwall Chronicle.) INTRODUCTION OP SAIjMON TO TASMANIA,

The following letter from the Colonial Secretary, in reply to a communication from the Royal Society on the subject of the expected arrival of salmon ova from England, was read at the last meeting of the Royal Society in Hobart Town:— "Colonial Secretary's Office, March 13, 1860. "Sir, —In reference to the arrangements requisite for the Government to adopt towards the reception of salmon ova, and having under consideration the favor of your communication on the part of the society thereon, I have the honor to acquaint yon that the Government did not at first feel justified in attending to any suggestion that involved an expenditure beyond the £520, which was voted by Parliament under the express understanding that it was to cover every

expense.,, " The Government has lately, however, received communications from a body of gentlemen organized in London for the purpose of voluntarily engaging in this-work, and the Government Feeling itself bound to co-operate cordially with persons exerting themselves in such a spirit for the interests of the colony, has made an arrangement similar in character to that recommended by the Royal Society, though on a somewhat more economical scale. Besides this, a portion of land has been rented from -Mr. Vigar, of North-West Bay, on which the director of public works is now engaged in erecting a water-course from the river, and pans for the hatching of the ova, and ponds for keeping the young fish. "In addition, as the situation is very favourable, a pond for salt water is also to be formed, which will enable the salmon to be retained throughout their growth, and thus enable the experiment, if once successful, to bo repeated through a series of years, for the purpose of supplying ova to other parts of this and the neighboring colonies.

" I beg you will convey to the Royal Society the thanks of the Government for the favor of their suggestions.

"■ I have the honor to be Sir your obedient servant, " William Henty.

" Dr. Milligan,"Secretary, Royal Society." The following letter from London on the same subject was read:

" Waratah House, Clapham Park, London, January 11,1860. "My Dear Sir.—As we hope to ship from 20 to 50,000 salmon ova in the beginning of February to Hobarfc Town, I write to request that you may have a place prepared for them in some stream, after the plan followed out co successfully at Stormontfield. Captain Langdon, who saw this operation, will be able to explain how simple and inexpensive it is ; at the same time, from my knowledge of the rivers of Tasmania, I would most earnestly press upon you the necessity that the ponds should be out of the reach of floods, or else the fry will be destroyed. " I have enclosed you the subscriptions for sending out the salmon to Tasmania, and finding upon an examination of the money spent, the preliminary experiment to have cost .£250, I last week called a meeting of the subscribers, and upon my telling them that the funds in hand were not sufficient for me to place enough ice on board ship to insure the cooling of the water to such a temperature as was requisite, they most generously added a second subscription. You will observe that, although the advantage of the experiment, if successful, will be to Tasmania, Sydsney, Melbourne, and Adelaide gentlemen had come forward most liberally, whilst from the colony itself which we are endeavoring to benefit not one shilling has been, received. This apathy is unaccountable. Believe me, &c, James A. Youl. " Dr. Milligan, Hobart Mown, Tasmania." "Subscriptions for the introduction to the Australian colonies of useful animals, birds, and fishes, amounted to £465, and i>loo reward to be divided between the person in charge, captain, and crew, upon their delivering the ova or fry in safety in Hobart Town." Mr. Youl's letter affords reasonable grounds for expecting the arrival of salmon ova in May next, and it will be gathered from the Colonial Secretary's letter that the Government has already made some progress in making preparations for its reception: and it is understood that a commission is to be appointed to advise the Government further as to the appropriation of the Parliamentary reward, and to control the details of arrangements now being made at the breeding ponds,. &c.