354 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



oysters termed * ware ' and * half ware ' ; and next regard 

 was had to the shell, quality of fish, substance, flavour, 

 colour and general appearance. After the English those 

 of the Dutch Society in all points were highly commended. 



But Dutch oysters, of which about nine millions or 

 half the total production of Holland came into this 

 country last year, can, it is said, never be cheaper, the 

 Netherlands Government charging high rents for the beds, 

 which are near Flushing, and it has been found on experi- 

 ment that the oysters will not live transplanted to English 

 waters. The cheapest oyster at present in the market is 

 the American, imported direct and not requiring to be 

 relaid. It can sometimes be sold at z/- per hundred, and 

 the season, commencing in November, lasts until the end 

 of May. 



There are three varieties, viz., ' Sounds,' sold whole- 

 sale at 3o/- per barrel; East Rivers, at 35/- ; and Blue 

 Points, at 4Z/-. Few of the first mentioned are in the 

 market, 'but large consignments of East Rivers and Blue 

 Points of excellent quality are arriving, 



Relaid Americans fetch from 4o/- to 457-, and are 

 quite as dear as the Anglo-Portuguese, the price of which 

 is 35/- per 1,000. It is the custom for English cultivators 

 to lay down great quantities of American oysters in the 

 spring, and it is considered that three months in English 

 waters is sufficient to impart the desired appearance and 

 flavour. For relaying purposes, however, the Portuguese 

 appear to be the most popular, the reason being that this 

 description can be sold cheaply, as it grows quickly on 

 our shores, and fattens and can stand the cold of an 

 English winter. An Anglo-- Portuguese is marketable when 

 eighteen months old, whilst the age of a Burnham native 

 is generally three years. The shell of the Portuguese is, 



