OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 977 



" During the open months the beds are stocked with a 

 supply sufficient to last, as far as possible, through the 

 close season ; and during the summer months these large 

 oysters are in great demand at fairs and races throughout 

 the country, and the price generally rises slightly, which is 

 the inducement to merchants to hold back. This supply 

 only ceases when the oyster becomes sick from spawning, 

 when they will not bear carriage ; oysters are then kept 

 back for a month, and are not sent to market again till the 

 spawning is over. We found it everywhere the opinion 

 of the fishermen engaged in the deep-sea dredging that 

 May, and even June, might be added to the open season 

 with advantage, on the ground that the oysters are never 

 in better condition than thev are in these two months ; 



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that if permitted to dredge then, these fishermen would be 

 able to bring in much greater supplies, as they are often 

 prevented during the open months of bad weather from 

 dredging in such exposed grounds ; and lastly, they say 

 that dredging the ground during May and June would 

 prevent the growth of weed and prepare it for the recep- 

 tion of spat." 



With regard to the question of admitting the months 

 of May and June into the open season, our own examina- 

 tions of deep-sea oysters are confirmatory of those of the 

 fishermen ; they are generally in a fine condition at this 

 time, not becoming " sick" from spawning till later in the 

 year. 



Another deep-sea oyster-bed occurs near Great Grimsby, 

 about a dozen miles from the shore off Spurn Point. This 

 bed is closely worked by the Colchester boats, during the 

 summer months. There are important deep-sea beds at 

 Arklow, on the east coast of Ireland, but they are not fit 

 for immediate consumption ; most of them are taken to 



