OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 421 



On the foregoing facts I have to report that the Cor- 

 poration of Edinburgh is not properly cultivating the fishery 

 granted to it under the Order of 1870. 



I am, &c., 

 (Signed) W. E. HALL. 



The Assistant Secretary, 

 Harbour Department, Board of Trade. 



(d) MID FORTH FISHERY ORDER. 

 20, Onslow Gardens, 29^ December, 1876. 



Sir, I have the honour to inform you that, in accord- 

 ance with your instructions dated the ist November, I 

 inspected on the iyth of that month the Mid Forth several 

 oyster and mussel fishery, granted to Mr. Anderson under 

 "The Mid Forth Fishery Order, 1870." 



Previously to the grant of the various Orders affecting 

 the oyster and mussel beds in the Forth, the Newhaven 

 fishermen had been in the habit of taking mussels on oyster 

 grounds belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch and the Earl 

 of Morton, and claimed to possess the right of doing so by 

 immemorial usage. It was consequently impossible to 

 protect the oysters, much poaching took place, and mussel 

 fishery orders were applied for in order to obtain the means 

 of effective control. During the public inquiry which fol- 

 lowed these applications an arrangement was come to by 

 which the Newhaven fishermen pledged themselves not to 

 dredge or trespass upon the grounds of the Duke of Buc- 

 cleuch and the Earl of Morton, and as the exterior boun- 

 dary of their fisheries ran irregularly, the arrangements 



