ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTURE. 1 087 



it, but it was a great mistake for anyone to suppose that by 

 bringing a French or Dutch oyster, and putting it into 

 English beds, that it was converted into a native. 



. . . . His Excellency Count Bylandt said he was 

 very glad that some gentlemen present had touched one 

 important subject in regard to artificial oyster-culture, viz., 

 the temperature of water, but unfortunately that was a fact 

 beyond human control. It was different in different 

 countries, and we must all submit to the consequences. 

 Some doubt had been expressed as to the success of the 

 artificial oyster beds in the Netherlands, but it seemed to 

 him that that question must be left to those who were 

 willing to pay every year increasing rents to the Treasury 

 for the beds they leased, and as to the figures which had 

 been given there could be no doubt. One gentleman 

 .touched on an interesting subject when he referred to the 

 desirability of international convention with regard to fish- 

 ing. No doubt that was a matter of great importance, but 

 how it could apply to oyster fishing he was at some loss to 

 understand, because if he was not much mistaken oyster- 

 culture meant the creating of artificial beds which were 

 generally established within the territorial waters of every 

 country, and where he did not believe foreigners were 

 allowed to fish. For all other purposes the mutual 

 interest of all nations was guaranteed by conventions, and 

 he was quite sure his country would be ready to join in 

 any convention for that purpose. 



The vote of thanks having been carried unanimously, 

 Professor Hubrecht, in reply, said that with regard to 

 the question Mr. Browning had brought forward as to the 

 age at which the oyster produced eggs, he would remark 

 that the eggs formed so to say the commencement of the 

 spat, and only in a later stage of the development of the 



