91

H.—22

ranging from about 2,500,000 lb. to 4,500,000 lb. annually. The chief supply came from Scotland, which sent about two-thirds of the whole, and Ireland, which sent about one-fourth. Mr. Young goes on to say, " During the first seven years in the above table the average number of boxes of salmon sent from Scotland to London was 20,107 ; during the second period, 29,011; and during the third period, ending 1854,18,210; while during the last seven years, from 18G9 to 1875, the average number was 24,478. It is perhaps worth noticing, in connection with the above, that the total number of boxes of salmon exported from Ireland in 1875, according to the statement of the Irish Inspectors—namely, 44,2741 —exceeds the total number of boxes delivered at Billingsgate in any one of these forty-two years." In a paper read on 30th March, 1880, at a meeting of the "American Fishculturai Association," it was stated that there were sold in Pulton Market, New York, of fish belonging to American waters—from March, 1878, to March, 1879, 33,529,000 lb.; from March, 1879, to March, 1880, 34,270,606 lb. I shall give only one other illustration of the extent and value of the salmon trade. In the Californian Fisheries' report referred to above it is stated that the quantities of salmon sent to San Francisco from the neighbouring rivers were as follows: From Ist November, 1874, to Ist August, 1875, 5,098,781 lb.; from Ist November, 1875, to Ist August, 1870, 5,311,4231b.; from Ist November. 1870, to Ist August, 1877, 6,493,563 lb. In letters addressed to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary —9th January and 27th February, 1880— to which I have the honor to refer you, and which I have no doubt will be readily submitted for your perusal, some other points connected with the subject are touched upon, amongst others, that of the direct interest which the Government, as the greatest riparian owner of land in the South, has in promoting the naturalization of the Sahno salar in New Zealand waters. I have, &c, J. A. K. Menzies.

Mr. J. A. E. Menzies to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Dun Alister, "Wyndham, 9th January, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt last week of your letter of 11th December, informing me that the salary of the Curator of the Southland salmon ponds will be paid for the present financial year, but that it is not probable that it will bo possible to include it in the estimates for any further period. I have also received to-day a telegram from Mr. Cooper, inquiring whether a lease for the land upon which the ponds are situated has been completed. The question of the continued maintenance of the ponds being thus opened up, it may be convenient to refer to their past history and management for a few years. About twelve or thirteen years ago the Southland Acclimatization Society acquired a lease of this land ; then, at a considerable expense, formed these ponds, sent to Tasmania and obtained ova of salmon, trout, and brown trout, reared them successfully, and subsequently obtained a further supply of ova from the same source, and with similar results. The Society Was most anxious to naturalize salmon, but, having no adequate funds, it sought to obtain a tract of land as an endowment, the sale of which would enable it to endeavour to obtain salmon ova from the mother-country. The Provincial Council of Southland was applied to, but difficulties arose which obstructed any grant from that quarter. Then an endowment of 2,000 acres was obtained for this purpose by the Act of 1809. The administration of this land was vested in trustees. The Society gave the use of the ponds, and for a time bore a part of the expense, but gradually the management came entirely under the control of the trustees. Their proceedings were fully reported, when in 1876 this fund was exhausted. Then the Superintendent of Otago, Mr. Macandrew —who, sharing in the desire to naturalize the British salmon, had always given his hearty co-operation —and the Provincial Government continued the attempt to introduce salmon, aided from time to time by votes of the General Assembly. Part of the ova were on each occasion sent to the Southland ponds, the trustees agreeing to continue their management. After the provinces were superseded, the General Government repeatedly obtained and sent to the Southland ponds ova of the Sahno salar from the United kingdom, and of the Californian salmon from the United States ; appointing five gentlemen to act as Commissioners in the management. In 1870 the Society made over the ponds to the Government, which thereafter sent thither to be reared most of the ova it imported. In the following year the Commissioners learnt that the lease of the ground had expired ; and, receiving the sanction of the Government to obtain a fresh lease, they gave instructions to have one prepared ; but some uncertainty about the legal tenure caused a long delay, and when the difficulty was solved the owner became involved in. the ruin that extended from that of the City of Glasgow Bank, the result being that no lease has been completed. I am now informed that the property will shortly be offered for sale, and an opportunity thus offered to acquire in fee-simple the section on which the ponds have been formed. The ponds are in excellent order, having been cleaned out and lined the summer before last; some repairs are required on the houses, and the breeding-boxes require renewal, the cost of which, together with repairs to the fence, would, by the estimate of the Curator, be fully covered by the sum of £25. Even now the ponds, &c, are in good working order, and the above small outlay will place all the accommodation in the most efficient state. If the Government desires to secure beyond a doubt the naturalization of SaJmo salar it may be requisite to make one or two further importations of ova, in which case, or in event of fish-breeding from any imported ova, it has at its command the services of an officer whose experience as Curator for the last twelve years specially qualifies him to conduct the management, and breeding-houses and rearing-ponds altered and improved from time to time, as defects become disclosed and remedied. The importance of the industry and its high prospective value when established may be inferred from reading the reports of the large sums realized by the annual leasing of the salmon fisheries in the Scottish rivers, and of the large exports of preserved salmon from California. The Government has now under its control all the appliances necessary to foster this nascent source of future wealth, and it