OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 965 



Now suppose we estimate ^.Ibs. of oysters to be equal 

 in nourishment to 2 Ibs. of bread, then half of 15,000 Ibs. 

 =7500 Ibs. T 4 gives 1875 4 Ib. loaves ; being a loaf a day 

 for 1875 persons ; instead of which, in the present exhausted 

 state of this fishery, a man may go down the harbour and 

 not earn half a loaf in a whole tide. 



If the mischief resulting from one smack's depreda- 

 tions deprives 1875 persons of a loaf of bread a day, then 

 30 smacks must produce (30 X ^75) a privation equal to 

 56,250 loaves a day for that number of persons. Say 56,250 

 4 Ib. loaves ; to this amount add the mischief done by the 

 other half of the smacks, estimated at two-thirds ; now 

 one-third of 56,250 is 18,750, and two-thirds are 37,500, 

 and you see a result of 93,750 persons deprived of a loaf of 

 bread a day through the imprudent dredging and the des- 

 truction caused by those pernicious enemies of the oyster 

 fishery the smacks. 



It should always be borne in mind that the harbour 

 boats and the smacks cannot work together at one and the 

 same time. The smacks have, before now, run them down, 

 thereby putting the lives of the fishermen in great danger, 

 and they are often forced by the unwarrantable and over- 

 bearing conduct to quit the ground and lay by, losing their 

 tide and consequently their livelihood. 



It has been said that from 60 to 70 smacks have been 

 dredging together for oysters in Emsworth harbour ; let us 

 say 60 smacks in all, and estimate the half of them at from 

 20 to 30 tons each, and the other half at from 10 to 20 

 tons each. The large class of smacks will catch 40 tubs 

 each per week, and they remain here about a month ; the 

 average monetary value of the 40 tubs, at a minimum, 6 ; 

 this sum in 4 weeks = ^"24 for each smack. Conse- 

 quently, the amount earned by 30 smacks per month is 



