114 ' OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



their locomotive stage, into the condition of fixed oysters, 

 rapidly, when confined in properly arranged aquaria. 



It is probable, therefore, that artificial breeding will 

 sooner or later be practised on a great scale with these 

 oysters. In the case of our own oysters, artificial propaga- 

 tion, by the methods practised in the case of the Portuguese 

 and American forms, which involve the destruction of both 

 parents, is obviously out of the question, unless some sub- 

 stitute can be found for the process of incubation, during 

 which it is probable that the young oysters receive, not 

 merely shelter but nourishment, from the parent. But a 

 careful study of the conditions under which our oysters 

 breed freely, will no doubt enable oyster cultivators to 

 imitate these conditions, and to place their breeding 

 stock under circumstances in which hurtful influences shall 

 be excluded ; while the larvae are prevented from wandering 

 too far, and facilities are afforded for their attachment. The 

 oyster grounds at the mouth of the Scheldt, of which a 

 very interesting account was given by Dr. Hubrecht, at 

 one of the conferences of the International Fishery Exhi- 

 bition, (k) seem to be in a fair way of realising these con- 

 ditions. (/) 



I am afraid the reader will deem me somewhat tedious 

 in having already lingered, perhaps, a little too long upon 

 this chapter of my book, and he or she may possibly resent 

 the unsolicited (but not, I hope, unwelcome) introduction of 

 "another' eminent naturalist, whose "difference of 

 opinion " I respectfully intrude upon his or her time and 

 patience, with the aim of arousing the interest of either. 



() Papers of the Conferences. " Oyster Culture and Oyster Fisheries 



in the Netherlands," by Professor Hubrecht. 

 (I) " Oysters and the Oyster Question." Professor Huxley. 



