4 s 



each nominal thousand, a bonus to the purchaser of one 

 per cent. 



Formerly the classification was by centimetre dimen- 

 sion, the oysters running in grades of J and \ centimetre 

 difference, 5-5J, 5-5J, 5J— 6 and so on. This classifica- 

 tion had several drawbacks and opened the door to 

 imposition and endless bickering and grumbling, till 

 in 1904 the system of combining measurement and weight 

 in the grading was introduced. By this system the 

 classification ran as follows : — 



Weight per thousand is now the accepted standard of 

 the trade ; it has proved satisfactory and is free from many 

 of the drawbacks inherent to sale based on measurement. 



Table showing the changes taking place in the disposal of the annual 

 output of indigenous oysters (O. edulis) from Arcachon basin. 



