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recent shipment of salmon ova to Dr. Hector's address, for which I am authorized to draw on the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand. As I am going out of town for a few days, should your letter not receive prompt attention you will understand the cause of the delay. I have, &c, E. J. Ceeighton, Livingston Stone, Esq., Eesident Agent, New Zealand. United States Fish Commissioner, Eeading, California.

Enclosure 2 in No. 17. Mr. B. J. Creighton to the Hon. Spencer F. Baird. Deae Sib, — San Francisco, 14th December, 1876. I have much pleasure in informing you that the shipment of salmon ova arrived at its destination in excellent order, and that the hatching out has been successful. The Press of New Zealand has acknowledged the liberality of the United States Fish Commissioners, and I am advised that the Colonial Secretary has written to you expressing the thanks of the New Zealand Government for your considerate attention to their requests. Mr. Firth, president of the Auckland Acclimatization Society, writes in similar terms, and doubtless you will have received a letter from him before this reaches you. I forward to your address a copy of the Auckland Southern Gross, containing a notice of the arrival of the consignment of eggs, and I have arranged to forward to you copies of the San Francisco Evening Post, containing a special article on the subject. In obedience to instructions, I have requested Mr. Stone to inform me the amount of indebtedness by the New Zealand Government on account of their share of the shipment, on receipt of which the money will be paid. 1 trust there will be no difficulty in the way of supplying the white-fish arranged for by Dr. Hector, which you requested me to remind you of about the new year. I am certain the success of the experiment hitherto will be a source of satisfaction to yourself, as unquestionably it is to all classes in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. S. F. Baird, Washington, D.C. E. J. Cbeighton.

Enclosure 3 in. No. 17. The Hon. Spenceb F. Baibd to Mr. E. J. Ceeighton. National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, Deab Sib,— 12th December, 1876. I propose to send about or after the 20th of December a quarter of a million of whitefish eggs to the Acclimatization Society at Wellington, care of Dr. James Hector, and I beg that you will kindly take charge of the shipment of these, paying the necessary expenses of transportation from Northville, Michigan, and of fitting up any provision on the steamer for their safe transmission. The weather will be so cool, that a delay of some time in San Francisco will probably not affect them. It is probable that these eggs will be sent to Mr. B. B. Eedding, Fish Commissioner of California, with some for the California Commission. Please see Mr. Eedding on this subject. I cannot tell here when the steamer leaves, but hope the eggs may go on soon after reaching San Francisco. I have, &c, E. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco, California. Spenceb F. Baied.

Enclosure 4 in No. 17. The Hon. Spencer P. Baied to Mr. E. J. Ceeighton. United States Commission, Fish and Fisheries, Washington, Dear Sib,— 22nd December, 1876. I am duly in receipt of your letter of the 14th of December, informing me of the safe arrival of the salmon eggs in New Zealand. It is indeed gratifying to know that such a brilliant success has been experienced; and I trust it may be in my power to assist in having subsequent shipments, not only to New Zealand, but to other points in Australia. I am in momentary expectation of receiving the announcement of the shipment from Northville, Michigan, by Mr. James W. Milner, my deputy, of a lot of white-fish eggs for New Zealand. 500,000 are to be forwarded to San Francisco, of which 250,000 are intended for Wellington, and 250,000 for the California Commissioners. To save expense, and to ensure greater care of the eggs, I directed that all be addressed to Mr. B. B. Eedding of the Central Pacific Eailroad and Fish Commissioner of California. The consignments are to leave at intervals of about a week, so as to avoid the risk of injury to the whole. I have also asked that each consignment be so arranged that it can be divided into two lots of 125,000 each. If, for any reason, as that of the departure of a steamer after the arrival of the first lot and before that of the second, it would be better to take all of consignment number one for New Zealand, I have no doubt that Mr. Eedding will consent to it. Of course you will see that all proper precautions are taken for the packing of the eggs on the steamer. I have, Ac, Spencee F. Baird, E. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco, California. Commissioner,