7 10 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



The whole export of oysters in 1881 was 6800 kilo- 

 grammes (100 kilogs.,= i ton), valued at 6800 kroner (18*2 

 k.,= ;i sterling). 



Considering the latitude of Norway, the intense cold 

 which prevails there during a large part of the year cold 

 so intense that sometimes the spawning of the oyster on 

 the natural banks is without results for several seasons ; 

 and, moreover, considering the distance of Norway from 

 those countries from whose experiences she might profit, 

 and from which she might obtain information, it will be 

 readily seen how numerous are the difficulties to be over- 

 come in the establishment of oyster culture on the shores 

 of Norway. 



Lieutenant- General Wergeland (formerly minister of 

 war) was not deterred by these obstacles. After carefully 

 consulting works relating to oyster culture which had been 

 published in foreign countries, and procuring exact data 

 from M. Theodore Soelfeldt, who had come to Paris to 

 study the French industry, he resolutely set to work in the 

 month of April, 1877. 



Various circumstances appeared to him encouraging ; 

 first, the presence of the oyster in the North Sea ; second, 

 the small amount of salt contained in the water of that 

 sea ; third, the favourable influence of the Gulf-stream on 

 the climate of these regions ; and finally, the ease with 

 which shelter may be found in the numerous fjords which 

 cut into the shores of the peninsula of Norway. A bay 

 situated a few leagues from Christiania (towards the fifty- 

 ninth degree of north latitude) was the spot chosen for the 

 experiment. It was necessary to guard against the incon- 

 veniences resulting from the early setting in of winter, 

 from the slight rise and fall of the tides, which at the 

 syzygies rise but a foot or a foot and a half, and from the 



