OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 379 



behalf of his Company, (The Poole Oyster Fishery Com- 

 pany) applied direct to the Board of Trade for a grant 

 over the Wareham Channel which was opposed by the 

 fishermen, who during the enquiry held at the Guildhall, 

 before C. E. Fryer, Esq., Inspector of Fisheries, stated, 

 that the said Channel was the best fishing ground in the 

 harbour. 



This statement being made by one and all of them, 

 the Inspector (after referring to the examinations before 

 Mr. Walpole) asked some of the witnesses how they 

 happened to say exactly the same thing with regard to Mr. 

 Bentinck's application for the South Deep at the opposite 

 end of the harbour ? which question being unanswerable, 

 at once proved that they were ready to swear anything to 

 suit their purpose. 



After this defeat, no further opposition being offered, 

 the Board of Trade gave a grant for sixty years of about 

 200 acres in this Channel, which has since been cleaned 

 and stocked with a very large quantity of oysters from 

 Arcachon and other places, which are brought direct on to 

 the grounds by steamer, and also native " halfware ' for 

 growing and fattening. And now, on the beds, can be 

 seen large areas covered with spat so many as seven and 

 eight spat being found on a shell which, as a natural 

 result of the great quantities planted, is carried far and 

 wide by the four knots tide and it is confidently expected 

 that our famous beds will be again plentifully stocked with 

 the luscious bivalves. 



Besides the large and constant supply of oysters from 

 Arcachon, the Poole Oyster Company (c] includes in its 



(c This name was assumed in 1889 instead of that previously 

 held viz., " The Fowley Oyster Fishery Company, (Limited)." 



Fowley Island is situated in Emsworth Harbour, about two miles 

 trom Havant. 



