1022 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



one case this has been done ; but in that case the company 

 had powerful, if not jealous, neighbours to look after them. 

 In other cases the weakest will go to the wall, and unless 

 almost impracticable safeguards are instituted the fishermen 

 will continue to suffer, and the policy of granting concessions 

 will not by any means do the greatest good to the greatest 

 number. The preliminary expenses are very heavy, and a 

 rent is charged for these concessions which, though 

 moderate, is a good deal for the poor fishermen to pay ; 

 they are also granted without prejudice to any question of 

 doubtful or disputed claim or right to the foreshores ; these 

 are facilities for the rich, and not for the poor. 



Of the natural breeding grounds which yet remain 

 public, those which are in proximity to private layings 

 require the most active surveillance. The inspectors 

 should see that no interference with the public right of free 

 fishing takes place that will favour any particular owner 

 or company, the percentage of oysters that die in transit 

 varying directly as the time they are out of water. 



If the Board of Trade continue to grant concessions, 

 it will be necessary to considerably increase the number of 

 inspectors to do justice to all parties. With the present 

 inspectors we think it would be impossible to supervise the 

 concessions already granted. Enquiries now only follow 

 complaints frequently repeated ; but none the less, when 

 these complaints are well founded, injustice has been done, 

 and surely legislation should have a higher aim than the 

 cure of injustice. 



We now see some of the same people who opposed 

 concessions in 1877 applying for them in 1882 and 1883. 

 " If some one must get it, why not we as well as others ? " 

 say they ; " the Board of Trade will have their own way : 

 we know that it is bad for oyster- culture generally, but as 



