1048 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



arrange the towing-rope so that the dredge should appa- 

 rently "work" well; but if oysters were in heaps down 

 below, not one would it bring up ! 



HARROWING AND TRAWLING. 



Most owners of oyster grounds use harrows for remov- 

 ing the weed and slub, thus cleansing the beds and giving 

 young oysters more room to grow in. Harrows are about 

 four feet square, they have on their under sides a number ot 

 small wooden pegs four to six inches in length ; these pegs 

 should be so placed that, when the harrow is used, each 

 peg should work over a di fife rent line to the others. The 

 size of the harrow and the weight on its back is regulated 

 by the nature of the ground, the hardness of shells of the 

 oysters, and the quantity of accumulated mud, weeds, &c. 

 The French authorities use the harrow on the Government 

 Reserve beds, and have lately paid the gardes jures to work 

 the harrow on the Cancale beds, where there has been a 

 deposit of mud. 



Harrowing is particularly useful on deep-sea beds 

 during the early summer months, as it will help to prepare 

 the beds for the reception of spat, by disturbing the silt, 

 &c., which is then carried away by the tide. 



We have coupled harrowing and trawling together, as 

 they appear to have much the same effect on deep-sea beds. 

 Both tend to keep down weeds and to disperse oysters. 

 Trawlers say that they endeavour to avoid oysters, as they 

 tear their nets, though the English trawlers often bring into 

 port large quantities of oysters, brought up, we are bound 

 to suppose, unintentionally ! French trawlers are so care- 

 fully looked after under the minute inspection of their autho- 

 rities, that it would be impossible for them to bring any 



