OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 44.9 



confined themselves to the Swansea Bay ground during the 



j CJ ^j 



earlier part of the winter months of 1873-74 and 1874-75, 

 and so exhausted it that they shifted over to other beds 

 before the end of February, because dredging had ceased 

 to be profitable upon it. The closing of a part of the 

 ground has, therefore, been merely nominal. It is much 

 to be regretted that a fair trial has not been given to the 

 system of making reserves. It has already been mentioned 

 that a certain amount of spat falls every year, and as the 

 Swansea ground is not one which requires to be cleaned, 

 and the enemies of the oyster do not appear to exist upon 

 it in excessive number, the conditions of reproduction are 

 unusually favourable. It seems probable that, if a good 

 stock of breeding oysters had been allowed to collect, a 

 very considerable increase might take place upon the bay 

 beds, and it is even likely that they would serve as a centre 

 of reproduction, not only for the whole Swansea fishery, but 

 even for places beyond its limits. I am informed that, in 

 the opinion of the fishermen, the coast for some distance 

 used to be supplied with spat from the bay ; and it is stated 

 that while the grounds lying outside it are much disturbed 

 in rough weather, those within the heads are protected, and 

 that the tides set strongly out of the bay so as to distribute 

 spat widely up and down the coast. 



In the draft order originally proposed by the Corpora- 

 tion, power was given to levy a license duty of 33. for every 

 registered ton which boats engaged in the fishery should 

 be capable of carrying. The dredgermen objected to the 

 amount of the toll, and consequently, although anxious for 

 a regulating Order, they appeared at the inquiry to oppose 

 that promoted by the Corporation. On it being explained 

 that, from the extent of the ground, a staff of at least 

 three water bailiffs would be required, and that a lighter 



