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instant. The cases were taken up to the hatching-house the following morning, and during the 9th the whole of the ova was satisfactorily placed in the hatching-boxes, the unpacking and removal of dead eggs being performed by myself, the placing in the boxes, by the curator and his assistant. The work was concluded at 5 p.m. The appearance of the ova was healthy in the extreme, not more than one in a thousand being dead, and the fish visible in the eggs. There appeared, however, to be one defect, for on placing the eggs in the water (which had been previously reduced with ice to 48°) the eggs did not fall apart, as they should have done, but hung together in groups, which required a slight agitation with a feather to separate them. A close examination of the eggs in the trays pointed to the conclusion that there had been too much pressure on the eggs from the superincumbent moss, in some places the shape of the lumps of moss having been imprinted on the eggs. With the exception of the two bottom trays in one case, the condition of the eggs was, with little variation, the same throughout. Attached herewith is a statement of the condition of each tray unpacked at Queenstown. The temperature inside the cases was always 32° on opening them to repack, and the North American ice was still intact at Queenstown. The normal temperature of the water at Queenstown is 50°. This was reduced to 48° with ice, and, as the 6cwt. taken from Oamaru was untouched, and a considerable amount remained in the ice-chest, there was every probability of the hatching being a success. All the water at this place was filtered through flannel before going into the boxes. I handed over to Mr. Firth, the secretary of the society, the copy of the parliamentary papers I had with me on the introduction of the whiteflsh, with a request to give them to the curator when read. The following morning at 8 a.m. I left Queenstown for Clinton, in order to see the hatchingarrangements there. Before leaving the curator informed me that the fish were hatching out and were lively. Through there being no connection beyond Lumsden on the 10th I did not get to Clinton till the 11th. Eanger Burt met me on arrival, and drove me out to the hatching-house, situated about two miles from the station. This place seems eminently suited for the rearing of salmon and trout, but not so for whitefish. The supply-race is twenty-four chains long, and, at present, is uncovered., so that the water is considerably raised in temperature before reaching the hatching-house. The supply of water is all that could be desired, and the soil—-clay—suitable for ponds. The slope of the ground gives a good fall of water, securing perfect aeration, and there is plenty of room for future extension. I found about 50 per cent, of the whitefish-eggs were dead, but those hatched out were lively and strong. The filtering-arrangement had been removed, and consequently a considerable amount of sediment was in the boxes. Not the least important feature about the Clinton Ponds is the fact that young fish can go straight from the ponds to sea without any manipulation whatever. Trees were being planted for shade and shelter, but it cannot be gone into as extensively as it should be, on account of insufficiency of funds. I left Clinton on the morning of the 12th, and on arrival in Dunedin wired to Queenstown for result. The reply was that about 50 per cent, of the ova had gone bad. On the morning of the 14th instant I went to the Opoho hatching-ponds with Mr. Wilkie, the secretary of the society, and examined the whitefish there, Mr. Deans, the curator, having brought about four hundred back from Clinton with him. About 50 per cent, appeared to be dead. From the fact that the percentage of dead to live ova at the three different hatching-houses was the same under different conditions, I have come to the conclusion that the loss is due to some defect inherent or acquired in the eggs themselves, notwithstanding the good condition in which they appeared to be on examination. I returned here on the 16th instant. In conclusion I beg to state that all the arrangements for the transportation of the ova from Auckland to Queenstown were perfect, and that no hitch occurred anywhere, and that every facility was given me for successfully transporting the same. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department. Geo. F. Smith, Lieut., E.N.

Whitefish-ova. — Condition of Trays. —Case No. 1: Ten trays transhipped to Nelson ; one to Clinton; Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15 (very good) to Queenstown. Case No. 2 : Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, very good; Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, first-class condition; Nos. 12, 13, not so good; No. 14, bad round corners; No. 15, very bad round corners. G. F. Smith, Lieut., E.N.

No. 30. Lieutenant Smith, E.N., to the Secretary, Marine Department. Sib — Wellington, 7th March, 1887. I have the honour to report as follows on the transhipment from Wellington to Clinton.and Invercargill of the salmon-ova per steamship " Kaikoura." Leaving Wellington at noon on Monday, the 28th February, Lyttelton was reached at 6 a.m. the following day. The boxes were at once transferred to a van which was attached to the southern express, Dunedin being reached the same night. The cases were iced up frequently, and left well filled for the night. A start was made for Clinton and Invercargill the next morning, six cases being handed over to Eanger Burt at the former place, and the two remaining cases being delivered to the Secretary of the Southland Acclimatization Society at the latter place, they being immediately placed in an express and conveyed to Wallacetown. I returned to Dunedin the next day, Thursday, and to Lyttelton on Saturday, taking the Eotorua to Wellington, arriving here on the 6th inst. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington. Geo. F. Smith, Lieut., E.N.