Correspondence presented to the Royal Society regarding the introduction of salmon from Scotland to Tasmania dated between  13th August 1849 and the 16th May 1850

Burnett, James L

Denison, William Thomas

Earl Grey,

Hawes, B

Young, A

Earl Grey

University of Tasmania Open Access Repository

40 Introduction of Salmon from theThe proportion unfinislied are 4*7 per cent., and 95'3 percent, finished. The number of houses inhabited are 95 percent., and 5 per cent, are uninhabited. Leaving out theMilitary, and the Convicts on public works, who are lodgedin barracks, an average is given of 1 house to every 6 personsin the Colony. The increase in house-building has beenprogressing at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum since theprevious Census.III. Corresjpondeiice on the Introduction of Salmon fromScotland into the Rivers of Tasmania. [Read WthDecember, 1850.]Sir W. Denison to Eael Gkey." IZth August, 1849." My Lord," Mr. James Burnett, Chief Clerk in the Survey Depart-ment, when on leave in England visited Mr. Young, the managerof the Duke of Sutherland's Salmon Fisheries, for the purpose ofconsulting him as to the practicability of introducing the Salmoninto the rivers of this Colony." Several attempts have been made to bring out the spawn,but they have all failed : as, however, Mr. Young is a practicalman, who is probably better acquainted with the habits of thefish than any person to whom application could be made,— ashe is willing to supply the fish,— to superintend all the necessaryarrangements which may be made for their safe conveyance to thisColony,—it would, I submit, be very desirable to make the experi-ment, which can cost but little, and the result of which, if successful,may prove of great benefit to the Colony." The simple plan would be, to allow the tanks, or whatever maybe necessary to contain the fish, to be placed upon the poop of oneof the Convict Ships coming out to the Colony, with directions to thesurgeon to take charge of the fish, and comply with the directionsgiven by Mr. Young. A trifling premium may be held out, shouldthe fish arrive in safety, as an inducement to the surgeon to takesome trouble in the matter.Rivers of Scotland into Tasmania. 41" The expense of preparing the tanks, &c., might, I submit, becharged to the Land Fund. I have enclosed a letter to Mr. Young,to be forwarded to him in case your Lordship should sanction theexperiment ; and in this I have pointed out to him the best mode inwhich the transport of the fish might be managed, and requestedhim to take upon himself all the arrangements relative to the con-struction of tanks, &c., submitting an estimate of the expense, andreceiving your Lordship's sanction to the outlay before any liabilitiesare incurred. Trusting that your Lordship will allow the experi-ment to be made," I am," Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,« W. DENISON."B. HaWES, Esq.^ Under-Secretary of State, dc, toA. Young, Esg." Downing Street,15th February, 1850." Sir," I am directed by Earl Grey to transmit to you the copy of aDespatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Yan Diemen's Land,respecting the introduction of Salmon into the rivers of that Colony,and referring his Lordship to yourself as being most competent tosuperintend the arrangements necessary for carrying the proposalinto effect. A private letter to you, which Sir W. Denison has alsoforwarded with his Despatch, is also enclosed ; and should it be inyour power to render assistance in this matter in the mode pointedout by the Lieutenant-Governor, I am to suggest that you shouldplace yourself in communication with the Lords Commissioners ofthe Admiralty, relative to the conveyance of the spawn, as LordGrey has already been in correspondence on the subject with theirLordships." I am to add that, on application to Mr. Barnard, the ColonialAgent, No. 3, Cannon Row, Westminster, any expense which it maybe requisite to incur will be repaid to you on the part of theGovernment." I am, &c.," B. HAWES."42 Introduction of Salmon from theA. Young, Esq., to Mr. Under-Secretary Hawes, M.P," Invershin, Bonar Bridge,7th. March, 1850.•* Sir," I had the honour to receive your enclosures of the 15thFebruary, including a letter from Mr. Burnett, from Van Diemen'sLand, and I quite agree with Mr. Burnett's suggestion of getting aSmack, with proper wells, for the carriage of Salmon to thatColony : and, if Earl Grey will agree to the expense of such, it iscertainly preferable to the proposed attempt on a cheaper scale, forin this case there is little or no chance of a failure, and the Smackcould be fitted up so as to carry both Salmon and Smolts, I think,in perfect safety; and certainly the additional security is worth muchmore than the additional expense. I may mention that I have ex-perimented on Salmon in all stages of existence, and among othersI have kept Skin (?) Salmon in a small pond, not nearly the size ofthe well of a Fishing Smack, for the space of nine months, and at theend of that time they were in perfect good spirits ; therefore, fromthat and other experiments I have made, I have full confidence thatthey could be carried from Scotland to Van Diemen's Land quitesafe." If Earl Grey resolves upon this plan of carriage, I shall be gladto put my?elf in communication with the proprietors of FishingSmacks, and ascertain what the expenses of a vessel from here toVan Diemen's Land would be. I would also procure the fish, seethem properly paired, and put into the wells of the ship," I have, &c.,« A. YOUNG."Mr. Hawes to Me. Young."Downing Street,18tk March, 1850." Sir," I have laid before Earl Grey your letter of the 7th instant,respecting the introduction of Salmon into the rivers ofVan Diemen'sLand, and I am directed in reply to observe, that the mode oftransportyou represent Mr, Burnett to have suggested in the sealed letter trans-Rivers of Scotland into Tasmania. 43mitted to you in mine of the 15th ultimo differs from the plan sub-mitted by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony, whose proposal,as you will perceive, is confined to forwarding the fish in tanks,to be placed on the poop of Convict Ships going out from thiscountry. With respect to the employment of a Smack for the con-veyance of the Salmon, I am to acquaint you that the expense wouldbe far more than that which the Government would be able to incurfor the object in question ; I am therefore to request that you willinform Lord Grey how far it would, in your opinion, be practicableto send them out in the manner proposed by Sir W. Denison. ;" I have, &c.," B. HAWES."Mr. Young to Mr. Hawes." Invershin,23rd March, 1850." SlE," I have received yours of the 18th instant, and in reply begto state that my opinion is, that it will be practicable to carry oldSalmon alive to Van Diemen's Land in tanks fitted up on the poopof a Convict Ship, as suggested by Sir W. Denison, but not so prac-ticable with Smolts (young Salmon),—and from the distance, at allevents the length of time on the way, and the climate, the ova cannotbe depended on." 1st. The old Salmon are capable of enduring more fatigue andhardships than the young ones are; and when they are put into ariver in Van Diemen's Land, they are certain to remain in that riveruntil their spawning process is over." 2nd. When the ova (eggs) are hatehcd in any river, the Smoltsproduced therefrom, when they go from that river to the sea, are incourse of time certain to return to the same river where they werehatched. Whereas Smolts carried from this country and put intothese strange rivers, after going down to the sea, might not returnto the river with the same punctuality as they always do to the riversin which they are bred ; therefore the old fish are preferable to theyoung in this case.I enclose a copy of the letter I got from Mr. Burnett on the sub-ject; and, although I can have no doubt that the fish can be carriedout in tanks as proposed, I must say that if Government would44 Introduction of Salmon from theallow the additional expense, on account of the great additionalsecurity, I am decidedly in favour of a welled Smack, and one ofthese can be hired at not an extravagant sum above the expense ofsending them in tanks." I have, &c.," A. YOUNG."J. L. BUENETT, Esq., to Mr. YoUNG." Hohart Town, Van Diemen^s Land,13th September, 1849." Dear Sir," On my arrival here, in June last, I immediatelyplaced myself in communication with the Governor on the subjectof introducing the Salmon into this country. I acquainted himwith the interview I had had with you, and with the interest whichyou took in the matter. The result has been, that Sir W. Denisonhas taken the matter up warmly, and has addressed the Secretary ofState on the subject, so that with your able assistance I really beginto have some hope of stocking our rivers with the finest of fish. Itwould indeed be a grand thing if it could be accomplished. Anotherplan, besides that which you have proposed, has occurred to me ; viz.,that of bringing the fish out in a regular Scotch Smack properlyfitted up with wells—the great objection would be the expense. Butwhat do you think of the money being raised by subscription—perhaps the Duke of Sutherland, a rich and liberal man, mightassist or contribute towards a fund to be so appropriated ? Couldyou give us any idea of the expense of purchasing a vessel, andfitting her out to come direct to Van Diemens Land, properly fittedup and manned with regular fishermen ? Surely, if a suflicient sumcould be raised, there would be little doubt of getting the fish here.Sir W. Denison has written to you himself on the subject, and isquite anxious about its success, as indeed he is about every thingelse that is at all likely to benefit the Colony. There was an animateddiscussion upon the subject last night at a meeting of the RoyalSociety for the promotion of science. I hope I shall hear from youafter you have been in communication with the Colonial Office,in Downing-street, for I shall be quite anxious to know if the expe-riment is to be tried. I told Sir W. Denison I was quite sure youRivers of Scotland into Tasmania. 45would do all in your power to forward the measure, and I am sureyou will. With thanks for the trouble you have already taken," I remain, &c.,« JAMES L. BURNETT."Mr. Hawes to Mr. Young." Downing Street,I3th April, 1850." SlE," I have laid before Earl Grey your letter of the 23rd ultimo,and I am directed to acquaint you, in reply, that his Lordship regretsthat he does not feel justified in incurring the expense of sendingout the Salmon to Van Diemen's Land in a welled Smack ; and hisLordship would, therefore, feel obliged by your making such arrange-ments with the Department of the Admiralty as may be necessaryfor the conveyance of the fish in tanks placed in the Convict Ships.Lord Grey would also propose that a proportion of young fish shouldbe placed in the tanks, together with the old, which you suggest asbest calculated for conveyance to the Colony.** I have, &c.,« B. HAWES."Me. Young to Mr. Hawes." Invershin,29th April, 1850." Sir," I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13thinstant, and to intimate that since receiving it I have had a conver-sation with Captain Denison, a brother of Sir William, the Lieute-nant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, regarding the sending outSalmon to that Colony, and he (Capt. D.) advises strongly not toattempt the carrying of them out in tanks, as the high temperatureof the water when crossing the line would very likely kill the fish.I therefore wish to lay Captain Denison's objection before you, andbeg to suggest that it might be as well to defer attempting to carrythem out in tanks until Earl Grey would communicate with SirWilliam, and learn whether the Colony would not be at the expenseof sending a welled Smack direct. I will willingly give all the46 Introduction of Salmon, dec.assistance in my power in whatever way the carrying maybe tried;but the proper erection of tanks, the collecting and selecting of thefi , &c., will cost a good deal, and if it should prove a failure, itwill be a vexing matter. Therefore, to make sure work, I am anxiousthat Sir William should be advised on the most practicable wayprevious to our proceeding." I have, &c.," A. YOUNG."Me. Hawes to Mr. Young." Downing Street,14th May, 1850."Sir," Tn answer to your letter of the 29th ultimo, and especiallyadverting to the opinion which you there state had been expressedby Capt. Denison as to the great risk of taking out Salmon in Tanksto Van Diemen's Land, I am directed by Earl Grey to inform youthat this appears to his Lordship to be a conclusive objection to suchmode of conveyance, and that, under all the circumstances, he hasthought it right to apprize the Lieutenant-Governor of the Colonythat no further proceedings will at present be taken in the matter.His Lordship, however, desires me to add the expression of hisacknowledgment of the ready assistance rendered by you in en-deavouring to forward the arrangements." I am, &c.,"B. HAWES."Earl Grey to Sir W. Denison." Downing Street,16th May, 1850."Sir,"With reference to your Despatch, No. 115, of the 14thof August last, suggesting that, through the instrumentality of Mr.Young, the Manager of the Duke of Sutherland's Fisheries, theexperiment should be tried of sending out salmon from this country,with a view to their being introduced into the rivers of Van Diemen'sExj^erimenis for determininy the Maimres, d:c. 47vLand, I herewith transmit for your information copies of the corres-pondence which have passed with that gentleman on the subject." I regret that the result should not have proved morefavourable to your project; but from the enclosed letters, and moreespecially from Mr. Young's last communication of the 29th ultimo,you will see that the obstacle to the proposed plan has been theapparent impracticability of carrying the fish in the mode you sug-gested, namely, in tanks placed in the poop of Convict Ships ; while,on the other hand, the alternative of using a welled Smack for theirconveyance has, for the present at least, been abandoned, as beingattended with too much expense. Under these circumstances, there-fore, it has not been considered advisable to take any further stepsin the matter until I shall be in possession of any additional sug-gestions which you may have to offer upon it."I have the honour to be," Sir," Your most obedient humble servant," GREY."IV. On Experiments for determining the Manures mostsuitable to the Turiiip Crop. By Sir W. T. Denison,F.R.S., dc. [Bead 9th October, 1850.]There is a Report drawn up by the members of theAunandale Farmers' Club, and printed iu the Transactionsof the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland forMarch, 1850, which is remarkable for two things :—1st. Thespirit which caused a body of farmers to unite and carry outa system of inspection, the sole object of which would appearto have been the attainment of information which they mightapply usefully to the cultivation of their farms.—2nd. Theresults of the system of cultivation pursued.As I believe that a system of careful experiment wouldbe most advantageous to the agriculture of this colony, and

Correspondence on the introduction of salmon from

Scotland into the rivers of Tasmania

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Correspondence on the introduction of salmon from Scotland into the rivers of Tasmania

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