Page:Acclimatisation; its eminent adaptation to Australia.djvu/39

37 considered to depend On the production of heat by means of its oxygen and hydrogen; by lubricating the mucous surfaces, and by being stored up in the tissues without transformation. It is considered by many—but requires continuation—that it promotes, assimilation of food, by affording the oily capsule to the globule of albumen in the chyle.

The introduction of the salmon into Australia still excites the highest interest. The attempts have cost nearly £600, but have unfortunately failed; but many who have studied the subject, of the transport of this fish in a scientific manner, are convinced that young salmon, if properly and scientifically watched during a long voyage, would arrive in safety. I consider that the ova of this fish could be introduced from the rivers of California into many of the Australian rivers, and found suitable for it with greater facility than from Europe; and if I am borne out in this opinion by some in this colony—Mr. Black, for instance, who is conversant with the transport of fish ova—I think the trial ought to he made. I cannot see why the ova of various fish could not be transported in a dried state, enveloped in moss, and placed in water on their arrival at their final destination. Water-courses have been dried up in India, the fish have disappeared, but on the return of the rains the lakes and rivers are at their full height, and teeming with fish. The probable reason that could be assigned for this is, the ova, properly vivified, lying dormant in the mud, increase in vitality, and on the rise of the waters become hatched, and thus, as if by magic, the streams are filled with the finny tribe. We are now aware that the rivers in Europe are fertile with fish. The best system of fish culture, the utilising of the water, or mode of multiplying fish, is by the artificial production of them; a mode long practised by the Chinese, and now extended in all the rivers of Europe, and when properly carried out "fish-hatching" is found to pay remarkably well.

Now a great deal has been said about "gouramy," an excellent fish, and attempts recently made to introduce it from the Mauritius failed from a little mismanagement, which on another trial could be easily rectified. This delicious fish is found in the rivers of Java, and in that island it has been supposed to have been introduced originally from China. If so, it was probably by the Chinese method of preserving the ova; and allowing this to be correct there would be no difficulty of conveying it by a similar method from Java to the fresh waters of this colony, as the distance would not be