OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 387 



famous oyster beds. How famous, the motto to this 

 chapter will give some slight idea ; and just a little while 

 before the writer thereof wrote his highly interesting and 

 instructive little book (27 years since), oysters, dredged in 

 Poole harbour, were so plentiful that they were sold in that 

 town at qd. per 100. Now they are sold at from i/- to 1/6 

 per dozen. 



Overdredging is a fault (I am almost tempted to say 

 a social sin) which the fishermen of other places have 

 been and are guilty of, and of which it is grievous to hear ; 

 but the inhabitants of Poole have a double cause for bitter 

 regret, since, with their self-caused diminution of oyster 

 produce, they feel yes, and they know, that had care, 

 judgment, and properly organized and energetic super- 

 vision guided their misused oyster industry, they could and 

 would, long since, have rivalled the wonderfully-prosperous 

 and wisely-managed Fishery of Whitstable. 



Regret is vain. I can only hope that, since the local 

 beds have been managed by a Company, this once happy 

 certainty may be fulfilled in the near future. 



In the Company's efforts I have great confidence, but, 

 so far as regards the " Corporation beds," and the fisher- 

 men in particular who dredge thereon (privileged so to do 

 by paying a yearly license of 3O/-), I would intimate to all 

 whom it may concern, that, although "the Schoolmaster 

 is abroad," 'twere well for them if the microscope were at 

 home. And this for the same beneficial reasons as those 

 attributed to the dredgers of Whitstable (see Chapter xviii), 

 where, it is but right to admit, the native fishermen have 

 (owing to several advantageous circumstances) somewhat 

 less sad need of it. 



The following is a description of samples of oysters 

 sent me by the Poole Oyster Company, January loth, 1890. 



N 2 



