348 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



estimate of the numbers of oysterlings on each of these 

 hurdles taken up from the 1 8-acre pare as the spat there of 

 the season, they cannot average less than 5000, giving a 

 grand total of 80,000,000 young oysters as stock for market 

 in 1870- i. 



It was estimated in 1864 that seven hundred millions 

 of oysters were consumed annually in London, and con- 

 siderably more than that number in the provinces. With 

 our growing population, annually increasing the number 

 of oyster-eaters, what a grand future appears to be looming 

 for oyster producers ! 



The following are the registered average temperatures 

 of the water in the 1 8-acre pare at Hayling during the 

 months of May, June, July, and August, taken 3 ft. under 

 water, and in the shade by day : 



1867. Maximum. Minimum. 



May. By day . . 61 . . 55 



By night .. 60 .. 53 



June. By day .. 67 .. 63 



By night . . 65 . . 62 



July. By day . . 70 . . 65 



By night .. 70 .. 64 



Aug. By day . . 70 . . 66 



By night .. 70 .. 65 



At the close of September last the minimum temper- 

 ature of the air was found to be 43 deg. ; the temperature 

 of the water in the 1 8-acre pare at the same time was tested 

 and found to be 58 deg. 



At a meeting of the Food Committee, on December 

 u, 1867, Mr. Robert Atkin proposed to build a class of 

 vessels of about 150 tons, fitted with wells, to keep the fish 

 alive, with steam power adequate both for working side- 

 screw propellers and for lifting the trawl net. The trawl 



