OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 453 



communicated to me in your letter of the i3th ultimo, I 

 held an inquiry at Herne Bay on Monday, the 8th instant, 

 into the condition of the oyster-grounds of the Herne 

 Bay, Hampton, and Reculver Oyster Fishery Company. 



In accordance with the provisions of the 32nd section 

 of the Sea Fisheries Act, 1868, and with the directions 

 which I received from you, notice of my inquiry was pub- 

 lished " fourteen days at least before the holding thereof," 

 in the Times, the London Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 

 and in the Whitstabh Times. 



Copies of the newspapers in which the advertisements 

 thus appeared are attached to this Report. 



Notice of my inquiry was also forwarded to the Com- 

 pany, to the representatives of the Memorialists, and to 

 the Collector of Customs at Faversham. Copies of the 

 notice were also publicly "posted' at Faversham, Whit- 

 stable, and Herne Bay. A copy of the notice which was 

 thus posted is attached to this Report. 



As the inquiry had not terminated at the conclusion of 

 my sitting, on the 8th of August, I adjourned it till the gth 

 of August ; and as the evidence was not concluded at the 

 end of the second day's sitting, I again adjourned the 

 inquiry to the earliest day on which it was convenient for 

 all the parties before me to attend, viz., Saturday, the i3th 

 of August. 



I remained myself at Herne Bay on the morning of 

 Wednesday, the loth of August, for the purpose of dredg- 

 ing over the company's grounds. I was prevented doing 

 so by the weather. I returned to Herne Bay on the 

 evening of the nth of August, for the purpose of dredg- 

 ing on the morning of Friday, the i2th of August. But, 

 though I was on board for some time making the attempt, 

 I was again prevented by the weather. I therefore decided 



