OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 363 



although no particular reason can be given for their being 

 so, and indeed in many instances they are not natives at 

 all that is in the sense of being spatted on the ground 

 but are, on the contrary, a grand mixture of all kinds of 

 oysters, brood being brought from Prestonpans and New- 

 haven in the Firth of Forth, and from many other places, 

 to augment the stock. 



The so-called 'native' oysters and the name is 

 usually applied to all that are bred in the estuary of the 

 Thames are very large in flesh, succulent and delicate in 

 flavour, and fetch a much higher price than any other 

 oyster. The beds of natives are all situated on the London 

 clay, or on similar formations. There can, however, be no 

 doubt that the difference in flavour and quantity of flesh is 

 obtained by the Thames system of transplanting and work- 

 ing that is vigorously carried on over all the beds. Every 

 year the whole extent of the layings is gone over and 

 examined by means of the dredge ; successive portions are 

 dredged over day by day, till it may be said that almost 

 everv individual ovster is examined. On the occasion of 



* * 



these examinations, the brood is detached from the cultch, 

 double oysters are separated, and all kinds of enemies 

 and these are very numerous are seized upon and killed. 



It requires about eight men per acre to work the beds 

 effectually. During three days a week, dredging for what 

 is called the ' planting ' is carried on ; that is, the trans- 

 ference of the oysters from one place to another, as may 

 be thought suitable for their growth, and also the removing 

 of dead ones, the clearing away of mussels, and so on. 

 On the other three days of the week it becomes the duty 

 of the men to dredge for the London market, when only 

 so many are lifted as are required. A bell is carried 

 round, and rung every morning, to rouse the dredgers 



