I080 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



of them, on a similar plan to that adopted in Holland. To 

 effect this our present arrangements were scarcely what 

 they ought to be, and measures more just to the neigh- 

 bours should be provided in all these cases, and careful 

 arrangements made with those who undertook them. 



Captain Anson remarked that Professor Hubrecht said 

 these beds in Holland had suffered from over-fishing, and 

 while of course he was willing to accept that, he should 

 have been glad if a little further information on the subject 

 had been given. He would also say that what was sauce 

 for the goose was not sauce for the gander, and that if the 

 oyster beds in the Thames or near the Mersey were allowed 

 to remain undisturbed for two months they would be simply 

 ruined, mudded up and covered with ooze, and the oysters 

 would all be eaten by crabs. He should also like to ask 

 what was the depth of water on the Dutch beds, and also 

 whether, as the result of his experiments, he could say the 

 temperature altered the spatting. He believed that this 

 matter had the greatest possible effect. He would mention 

 one fact which perhaps tended to further the view that had 

 been put forward, namely, that between Cancale and Gren- 

 ville the French Government had established a permament 

 reserve, where no dredging was allowed. He went there 

 dredging last year, and the oysters were certainly most 

 numerous ; they appeared to exist in millions. 



Captain Austin said he represented a large oyster 

 company which had large beds at Whitstable, and also in 

 Ireland and Scotland. He should second the suggestion 

 of Mr. Fell Woods that there should be discussion on this 

 oyster question, so that some practical conclusion might 

 be arrived at. But as far as he gathered from Professor 

 Hubrecht, he said it was nothing but the old oysters that 

 bred, whereas at Arcachon they dredged every old oyster 



