STATISTICAL AND OTHER INFORMATION. 883 



leased, generally, for a long term of years. From time to 

 time the government caused the banks to be officially 

 examined, in order to find out their condition and prevent 

 their depletion by over-fishing. The examination was 

 conducted by commissioners appointed by the government, 

 and the dredging carried on in their presence was per- 

 formed by fishermen specially sworn for the purpose. The 

 smaller beds were dredged in three, the larger in six dif- 

 ferent places, and all the oysters taken were divided, 

 according to size and age, into three classes, known as 



1. Zahlbar Gut, or marketable. 



2. Junggut, or medium (half-grown). 



3. Junger Anwachs, or young growth. 



The marketable ovsters are those which are lar^e and 



o 



full grown. Their shell is at least 7 to 9 centimeters in 

 length and breadth, and when closed the greatest thickness 

 must be more than 18 millimeters. The left valve, or the 

 one which is most curved, is from 6 to 9 millimeters thick 

 at the point of attachment of the shell-muscle, and also 

 under the ligament. 



The greater number of full-grown oysters are from 

 seven to ten years of age, yet many older ones are found, 

 which can be distinguished from the younger ones by the 

 greater thickness of their shell. Oysters more than twenty 

 years old are seldom seen. The oldest which I have per- 

 sonally examined I estimated to be from twenty-five to 



except, however, those who take them in our name by the authority of 

 our liege at Ribe. Whoever shall dare to act contrary to this com- 

 mand, and he can be justly convicted of so doing, shall be punished 

 according to his deserts. Each one is then to govern himself accor- 

 dingly, and guard against transgressing. Given at Skanderborg, the 

 4th day of February, 1587." 



