426 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



ground only. As such it appears to have hitherto been 

 commercially a failure. A mistake seems to have been 

 committed in choosing the part of the ground upon which 

 operations were begun. Of 960,000 oysters which were 

 laid down in 1869 upon the upper portion, a large number 

 were swept away by floods, and those which remained, as 

 well as others imported in successive years, were injured 

 by continual freshets. In 1874 the upper part of the 

 Channel was abandoned, and the attention of the under- 

 takers was concentrated upon the lower ground. Their 

 monetary loss by this time \vas, however, considerable, 

 and, after laying down 224,000 oysters in that year, and 

 only 90,000 in 1875, they added none in 1876. The culti- 

 vated area is now reduced to four acres ; the rest of the 

 ground is confessedly neglected, and the total stock of 

 oysters amounts only to about 100,000. 



It does not appear to me that, if the fishery remains 

 in the possession of Messrs. Warner & Scovell, any reason- 

 able probability of due cultivation exists, A company is 

 now, however, in process of formation, which intends to 

 take over, amongst other properties, those of Messrs. 

 Warner & Scovell and of the Isle of Wight Oyster Fishery 

 Company. If this company is, in fact, formed, it will 

 supply the Hamble ground with brood from the breeding 

 ponds of the Medina and Newtown rivers, at a cost which 

 it is supposed will be very much less than that at which 

 Messrs. Warner and Scovell have hitherto obtained their 

 oysters, and it is thought also that a great economy will be 

 effected in labour. Under these circumstances, I do not 

 recommend that the Order shall at present be determined. 



I am, &c., 

 (Signed) W. E. HALL. 



The Assistant Secretary, 

 Harbour Department, Board of Trade. 



