STATISTICAL AND OTHER INFORMATION. 871 



with which object in view I herewith present the reader 

 with a most reliable and exhaustive tabular statement rela- 

 tive to our Oyster Fishery, which cannot fail in instruction 

 and interest. 



RETURNS OF STATISTICAL TABLES AND MEMORANDA. 

 (Published by order of the House of Commons.) 



From these I quote the Quantities and Values of 

 Oysters for the years 1886 to 1889 inclusive. This is the 

 fourth year during which the statistics have been collected 

 for the whole twelve months ; the collection itself having 

 been commenced in the spring of 1885. To the tables for 

 England and Wales are also added tables, for the last 

 three years, relating to the fisheries in Scotland, and, for 

 the last two years, to those of Ireland, where the collection 

 of such statistics was commenced during the year 1887, but 

 was not made for a complete year until 1888. The method 

 of collection was generally obtained through the Coast- 

 Guard Officers, and supplied to the Board of Trade once a 

 month. 



The statistics, it should be remarked, are those of 

 oysters first landed on the coasts that is of oysters landed 

 direct from the fishing grounds, excluding all imported 

 from foreign countries, as well as all oysters that had been 

 previously landed elsewhere in the United Kingdom. 



It will be seen by the following tables that there is a 

 great diminution both in quantity and value since 1887. 

 Unfortunately, it is impossible to say how far this is a real 

 falling-off, owing to the positive refusal of different Com- 

 panies to make returns ; but it is probable that this refusal 

 accounts for a very large part of the apparent decline. 

 Not having any means of compulsion, the Board of Trade 

 can only note the fact of refusal to make returns. 



