976 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



one of these beds. It is alleged by many of the witnesses 

 examined by us on this subject, that the effect of discon- 

 tinuing dredging during the summer months has been to 

 do far more injury than good ; that it has allowed weeds 

 and slub to accumulate on the ground, which under the 

 old system were prevented from settling on the ground to 

 the same extent ; that the spat falling upon this foul 

 ground has been choked by weeds and mud, and that 

 consequently the oyster-beds have almost disappeared." 



But whether the close time in this instance was the 

 cause of the failure of oysters or not, it is very difficult to 

 express an opinion. The spat has failed everywhere for 

 the last five or six years, and even in private grounds, such 

 as at Whitstable and Colchester, where dredging for spat 

 in the summer has been allowed. 



Of deep-sea oyster-beds, the most productive are the 

 banks in the parts of the Channel between Dunkirk and 

 Cherbourg ; they are found in water from 15 to 24 fathoms 

 deep ; it is gratifying to be told that they show no sign of 

 giving way ; these oysters, however, are not like the real 

 native : they are large and coarse, but improve on being 

 laid down on beds in-shore for a time, though, from being 

 accustomed to live in deep water, they will not stand the 

 winter on the shallow Kentish beds. The price of "the 

 channels ' ; was in 1865 only i2/- a bushel, while the 

 genuine native fetches 8o/- to qo/- per bushel. The 

 channels, however, run from 400 to 900 to the bushel, 

 natives from 1500 to 1900. The trade in these large 

 oysters is considerable, upwards of 300 vessels, of about 

 25 tons each, and carrying six men, are employed in it. 

 The vessels hail principally from Colchester, Rochester, 

 and Jersey, but take their produce to Shoreham, Newhaven. 

 and to the beds at the mouth of the Thames. 



