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Newcastle Decemb 15/86
Mr Tilton Esq
Depty Minister of Fisheries
Ottawa

Sir
I herewith Enclose
an account of the Agent of the
Express Compy for charges upon
a number of [packets?] containing
specimens of white fish. forwarded
from Manitoba, and the North
West:-- amt of acct $28.25
These packages of fish were
sent by Mesn [McKeen?] and Gilchrist
Fishery oficers in the North West,
by instruction from your Dept.
I regret to say that (in) the several
packages came to hand in a perfectly
unfit condition for particular
Examination; most of them were in
a putrid state: Of this fact I
wrote to Inspector McQueen, telling
him that it was perfectly useless
to send fish in this way, as the
principal object [?] to be learned
could not be got at on account.
Of the putrid state of the Ova
[within?] the fish; but that he

[Recto]
that white fish deposit their
ova in the water of the North
West, and Manitoba during
the month of October, are [erroneous];
and most certainly judging
from the compact state of the ovaries
of the fish sent me, they could
not be emitted from the fish,
as they were still held together
in one mass; and therefore
unripe, and not susceptible
for impregnation by the Milk
of the Male fish. -

I [should?] therefore conclude
that the period in which white
fish become ripe to lay their
Eggs in the north west waters, is
the same as in Ontario.

Please forward the
Express account Enclosed
herein, as the agent requires
it at once. --

I am Sir
Yours Obdly
Samuel Wilmot
Supt,

P.S.: This account should not be
chargable against this Newcastle
Hatchery.
W.

Notes and Questions

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William Knight

This letter shows Wilmot's interest in the timing whitefish spawning in the west. He did not compile natural history or ichthyological notes in any systematic way, so it would be interesting to know why he was asking for such specimens.