OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 991 



In places where the foreshores are public property, 

 Government appears willing to grant the required ground ; 

 but the expense of obtaining such grant is such that no 

 individual fisherman can afford to apply for one. Hence, 

 oyster-breeding establishments are not likely to become 

 extensively adopted in this kingdom, although continental 

 governments enable the poorest fishermen to obtain a grant 

 almost free of expense. 



To counterbalance this difficulty, however, it may be 

 said that in England capital is abundant, and that com- 

 panies devoted to the oyster culture will be plentiful. 



At the present day this science is in its infancy ; the 

 first success being that of the South of England Oyster 

 Company Limited, in 1866, shortly before the passing of 

 the Act, and it does not appear that this Company will 

 have many competitors, except where the required con- 

 ditions can be obtained on private or corporate property. 



The right of fishery in tidal waters generally being in 

 the hands of the Crown, except where grants have been 

 made to corporations, or where it exists as a manorial 

 right, it is hard to see why any attempt to stock the public 

 waters should meet with opposition, but rather should not 

 be encouraged in every possible way. Of course no indi- 

 vidual or company would undertake to stock the ground 

 without a share of the benefit ; but this might be arranged 

 by way of licence-fee or royalty. This, however, is stated 

 to be one of the claims which cannot be entertained under 

 the Board of Trade regulations, yet it is what must be done, 

 ere the public waters are replenished with oysters. 



Excluding for the present this plan as impracticable, 

 the next case is where a moderate area of unproductive sea- 

 bed is applied for as a several fishery. Surely where this 

 is the subject of application, there ought not to be either 



