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From Ferdinand von Mueller to William Henty   12 June 1860

Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden,

12. June 1860

Sir

I have the honor to inform you, that the ship "S. Curling" arrived at Hobsons Bay1 on the evening of the 9. June, when I learnt to my deep regret, that the Salmon ova had perished on the voyage.2

It will be unnecessary for me to detail the causes, which frustrated the enterprise, since in the "Argus" of the 11th June an account3 of the circumstances has been given, through which the failure of the experiment was caused, and since Mr Black, the Superintendent of the Ova, will furnish to you a report on the subject.

It is however gratifying to learn by this first experiment, that Salmon ova can be shipped to these shores, by such modifications of the apparatus, as this first trial suggested & by the copious and sole employment of ice for irrigation.

May we trust, that not only the enterprising inhabitants of Tasmania, but also the colonists of other countries of the southern temperate zone will avail themselfes next season of the experience gained on this occasion and that they may thereby succeed to confer by enriching the treasures of their rivers a lasting benefit to this and future generations.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient and humble servant

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable the Chief Secretary of Tasmania.4

1

Melbourne.

2

See W. Henty to M, 9 May 1860; M to W. Henty, 15 May 1860; and M to W. Henty, 29 May 1860.

3

Argus, 11 June 1860, p. 5.

4

See also W. Henty to M, 14 June 1860 (in this edition as 60-06-14b).

Please cite as “FVM-60-06-12,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/60-06-12