ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTURE. 1153 



only one referring to fishing vessels, and was evidently 

 intended originally to apply to them when at work and 

 perfectly helpless. It was evidently meant to convey that 

 all vessels under command must avoid them 



And of many more similar paragraphs are composed 

 the legislative records of the Board of Trade. 



And this Governmental department has within its 

 unpractical grasp the unlimited control of the British 

 Oyster Industry ! 



Is the reader satisfied convinced ? I hope so, and 

 pause for a reply. 



In concluding this somewhat long but sternly neces- 

 sary preamble to the better comprehension of the 

 deficiencies in our oyster cultivating methods, which will 

 be minutely described in my next chapter, I cannot allow 

 the reader to indulge the thought that the foregoing 

 strictures upon the Government have afforded me any 

 personal satisfaction, or that I have taken any vicious 

 pleasure in writing that which, in truth, has been expressed 



by me 



"More iu sorrow than in anger." 



I would have rejoiced had there been no occasion for me 

 to write thus ; and I am grieved to think that I or any 

 other British loyal subject should be forced to cast 

 reproaches on the maladministration of a Government, 

 which, although from time to time, it has been censured 

 by the Press all too mildly I bitterly regret to say shows 

 no sign of amendment. 



MM 



