9QO OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



" The only ground for appropriating or granting exclu- 

 sive fishery rights over any portion of the sea-shore is the 

 expectation that by these means the supply of oysters will be 

 materially increased, and the public thereby benefited." 



" The General Principles on which exclusive Rights of 

 Fishery will be granted are ; 



" i. Appropriations of moderate areas of unproductive 

 sea-bed, or fore-shore, for the establishment of new fisher- 

 ies, or local depots. 



" 2. Appropriations of small areas of already productive 

 ground for oyster-layings, or depots in the vicinity of 

 public beds. 



" 3. Concessions of exclusive fishery rights to owners or 

 occupiers of existing fisheries, but within such limits and 

 conditions only as may make such concessions beneficial 

 to the public." 



It will be admitted that the proposed increased supply 

 of oysters cannot be effected by the establishment of 

 depots, or that oysters will be multiplied by their removal 

 from one bed to another, from public oyster grounds to 

 those of private owners ; the cause of the present scarcity 

 being the exhaustion of the public oyster grounds. 



There remains therefore but one way of re-establishing 

 the equilibrium between demand and supply, and that is to 

 induce persons to set up in suitable localities establish- 

 ments where oysters can be bred and protected in their 

 infancy from their enemies, and from these beds to re- 

 stock the exhausted dredging grounds. 



To be effectual, the accomplishment of this task 

 necessitates a large outlay of capital, and the aid of the 

 Government in the removal of all restrictions, except those 

 absolutely necessary for the protection of the public. 



