ACCLIMATISATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 73, 21 November 1865, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From tbo Press.) We are glad to find that the Acclimatisation Society of Canterbury, which ■we had feared was sharing the fate of too many of the societies that have from timo to time been started in this province and passing from the first vigor of its early existence to the decrepitude of a premature dissolution, is not only still flourishing, but is continuing aetivo exertions towards the accomplishment of ono of its most important objects. — the introduction of troxit and salmon. A letter from Dr. Officer, of Tasmania, read at their last meeting, and published in our report given in Saturday's issue, encourages us to hope that this will, at no very distant date, be successfully effected. Dr. Officer gives some interesting details respecting the result of the importation of trout and salmon to Tasmania, which, notwithstanding n few mistakes, promises to turn but as favorably as its most sanguine promoters had ventured to expect; Tho experiment of bringing ovor the ova packed in moss and covered in ice was, as our headers are aware, a signal success, and though there has been a considerable mortality among the young fish from some Causo not precisely ascertained, v sufficient stock was left to fortn a vefy satisfactory beginning. Of theso,as Dr. Officer tells us, the Tasmanian Society, wisely resolving not to trust too much to a single chance, have turned soin6 out into the river to make their way into tho sea, whilo the remainder have been retained in the ponds. Tho former, if they escape the perils of the deep and the encouutci' with monsters of the main such as salmon never yet beheld, wiil find their way baok to the parent stream in cither four or sixteen months, announcing by thoir arrival the welcome fact that the work of acclimatisation is complete Their less adventurous eotnpanious who have passed tho winter in the safe seclusion of the breeding ponds, have not suffered either in health or spirits by their

forced departure from the vagrant habits of their race, and as it has been discovered that salmon will live and propagate their kind without paying the usual annual visit to the sea, it is intended to keep them prisoners till they are in condition to produce a further supply of ova, and thus give their ultimate acclimatisation a second chance of success. As for the trout, all difficulty appears to be over with them. They have thriven admirably — better than the salmon, and are expected soon to begin spawning. The Society purposes to keep them also in the ponds till they get ova • enough to stock the rivers of Tasmania, Australia, and Ne\Vv Zealand. Dr Officer promises, on behalf of the Tasmanian Society, to send a supply to Canterbury at the earliest opportunity, and states what he thinks the best method of dointf so. There cannot be the slightest doubt, he says, that any attempt to bring over young fish alivo in tanks must be a failure, while it would involve great additional .expense for freight and attendance on board ship. On the other hand, the ova packed up in small boxes between layers of wet moss, just as they wore sent from Kngland to Australia, would occupy little room, the cost would be comparatively trifling, and, whta is most important of all, they would bo certain to arrive safely. The practicability of bringing the «va in that manner has been demonstrated, not only by the success of the last experiment on board the Norfolk, but by several previous attempts, in which, though they ended unfavorably owing chiefly to a deficiency of ice when crossing the tropics, the ova were preserved alive for a longer time than would be necessary for the voyage from Hobart Town to Lyttelton. There is at least then every reason to hope that the long discussed project of introducing salmon into the rivers of New Zealand is likely to be realised. Great interest has been taken in the matter in Canterbury, and the Provincial Council last session voted a sum of money to assist in defraying the expenses incurred in Tasmania. The Acclimatisation Socitey are about to set to work to provide suitable ponds for the reception of the ova, and the experience gained in experiments cariied on elsewhere will no doubt enable them to avoid any material mistakes in the prosecution of their enterprise. As to the general suitability of the Canterbury rivers for salmon, we must leave that question to the decision of those better acquainted than ourselves with ihe haunts aud habits of tho noble fish, though in some respects they resemble streams in Great Britain which have long been famous for their salmon fishtv-ies. The main difficulty, we apprehend, will be found in the frequent heavy freshes of snow water. But whether we look at the matter with the eye of a sportsman or a gastronome, there can be no doubt that the salmon will be a most desirable acquisition, and that the gentieraen of the Acclimatisation Society, if they succeed in this the last and greatest of their undertakings, wilb deservedly take high rank among benefactors of the province.