164 



as much as if inches in diameter. Since the oysters 

 could not possibly be above two months old, this rate of 

 growth is very remarkable, and exactly corresponds with 

 similar results in 1908 when the largest oysters of not 

 more than 1 1 weeks old, and possibly less, reached a 

 diameter of i| and even i|^ inches. Subsequent examin- 

 ation on the 26th March last (iQio) showed that while, 

 owino- to over-crowdino- on the tiles, the o-eneral mass of 

 young oysters had not much increased in size, those, on 

 the outer edges which had more room and more food, 

 had greatly developed showing sizes up to 3 x 2 inches, 

 2 J X 2, etc., on the tiles laid down on 19th September 

 1909, and up to 3 x 2^ on tiles laid down on 12th 

 October 1909 ; the sizes slightly decreased on the tiles 

 laid down later than the 12th October, but nevertheless 

 were as much as 2| x 2^, 2\ x if, etc. Hence it is 

 proved that in slightly over fivs months oysters can be 

 deposited as spat and grow to the size of 3 x 2^ inches, 

 a rate of growth unparalleled or unsurpassed anywhere. 

 Not only so but the oysters deposited on our tiles in 

 October 1908 showed on 26th March 19 10, or within 

 eighteen months, a growth in inches as follows : 4J x 2f, 



44 ^ ^4' 48^ ^ 34' 32 ^ 3' 3 ^ ^2. 34 -^ ^4' ^^*^- 



These oysters were healthy and fat, while the shells were 

 well developed being from i|^ to i|^ inches in thickness, 

 while the flavour was, Mr. Hornell says, the finest of any 

 he had eaten in India ; these oysters, he adds, were of 

 just the proper size for use. 



Hence it has been already proved to demonstration 

 that we can raise oysters of good size and excellent 

 quality, fit for table consumption, within 18 months from 

 spat fall. It may also be mentioned that the spat fall 

 again occurred immediately after the fresh water floods 

 in the backwater, and was earlier in 1909 as were also 

 the floods. 



5. With the sanction, therefore, of Government I 

 now propose to develoj) our preliminary Ennore experi- 

 ments into a small but systematically arranged experiment 

 in oyster culture, in view to its eventual public acceptance 

 as a regular fishing industry of simple and readily learned 

 character, easy control, and great value, which private 

 individuals, however unlearned and poor, can carry out 

 with ease and profit. The oyster industry has the 

 advantages that its subjects are stationary, its locale is 



