460 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



myself the responsibility of excluding this evidence, and I 

 pointed out to Mr. Bennett that it would be obviously im- 

 practicable to limit the inquiry to the extent which he 

 proposed, as the memorialists were evidently entitled to go 

 into the twelve months preceding the presentation of their 

 memorials, or the twelve months ending May, 1880. Mr. 

 Bennett admitted the force of this conclusion, and modi- 

 fied his objection to my receiving evidence on matters 

 preceding the ist of June, 1879. At his request I noted 

 his objection, and promised to mention it in my Report. 



In redeeming my promise, I venture to add that, if I 

 had limited the inquiry in the manner which Mr. Bennett 

 desired, I should have found myself with little or nothing 

 to inquire into. During most of the year, which ended on 

 the 3ist of May, 1880, the Herne Bay Company can hardly 

 be said to have had an organised existence, and I think it 

 will appear from what follows that the Company's case 

 during those twelve months was weaker than at any pre- 

 vious period. 



I have explained in such detail, in my previous 

 Reports, the process of oyster culture, that I do not desire 

 to dwell on this matter at any length now. 



It is sufficient for my present purposes to say that 

 oysters "spat" in the summer months; that the spat, 

 extruded from the parent shell, float, or rise and fall in the 

 water, till they find some clean hard substance to adhere 

 to ; and that all oyster culturists admit the necessity of 

 providing a clean bottom, or other surface, for the purpose 

 of encouraging the attachment of the spat. 



This object may be obtained in two ways: i. By 

 placing clean oyster, mussel, or other shells on the grounds 

 for the spat to adhere to. Shells so placed are technically 

 called " cultch ;" and 2. By dredging over the ground, and 



