they really are. My opinion is that they are a distinct species, and not the fry (or young) of another fish. Of course, the whitebait should not be confused with the young smelt, a native fish that much resembles whitebait, but grows considerably larger, some of them growing to 8 in. or 10 in. in length.

During the last whitebait season Mr. James King, secretary of the Westland Acclimatisation Society, obtained a quantity of whitebait from the Hokitika River and forwarded them to me at the hatchery. I received them on the 21st November, 1901, and have had them in the rearing-boxes till the present time. They had the same treatment as the trout-fry, and throve very well, hardly any of them dying. I occasionally put a handful of salt in their water. They increased a little in size—a shade longer and filled out more. About the 10th March, 1902, I thought they were showing signs of developing ova, and on examination I found such to be the case; and on the 24th March they were nearly all carrying ova or milt. About the end of March and the first week in April a few of them died and burst open, and on examining them I found them crammed with ova I concluded they died through inability to spawn in the box, the conditions not suiting them. I stripped (or spawned) a few of them, but they are too delicate to handle with success. I am trying to get them to spawn naturally in a box I have prepared for them, and to artificially fertilise the ova and hatch it; but I am doubtful if I can make a success of it with the appliances I have.

During the season whitebait run up the rivers of Westland in countless numbers, and gradually work their way up the streams, creeks, and small runs of water until they are pretty well dispersed, and it becomes very difficult to find them in the streams. I think they run up the streams and develope their ova in the fresh water, and after spawning return to the sea again. A few months after their appearance running up streams they may be noticed drifting down stream again in small numbers, perhaps three or four together, or sometimes as many as a dozen.

I am sending a few specimens of the whitebait, both male and female, and also some ova, preserved in formalin. The ova can be seen in the females quite distinctly through the skin of the belly. I would like to have them examined by some of the members and to hear their views on the subject, and any ideas they may have as to carrying out the experiment of hatching the ova. If practicable, I would be pleased to try them and let you know the result.