286 ON OYSTEE-CULTUPvE IX SCOTLAND. 



it was necessary to consider whence a supply of " brood/' or 

 even immature oysters of a larger growth, were to be obtained, 

 seeing our own supply, as well as that of the neighbourhood, had 

 apparently failed for the time. We had been more than once 

 informed that those oysters imported from America were un- 

 suitable for our waters, and did not thrive even if they lived. 

 Still this seemed the most likely source, and we determined to 

 give it a fair trial. 



The length of time most American oysters are on the way, 

 and the very weak condition in which they arrive in this 

 country, demanded more especial care in the transport. This, 

 through the care of a friend, we managed, first with some mature 

 Americans, and these we laid down carefully, allowing them 

 only to drink through the barrel at first, so as to prevent too 

 sudden a change of temperature, and too much gluttony from 

 the rich foreshores on which they were then laid. They all 

 survived and throve to our satisfaction. This induced a second 

 experiment with young oysters of rather varied size, the smallest 

 being less than a shilling. These also proved to be C[uite 

 acclimatisable ; and although w^e lost a good many thousands 

 ultimately through a cold wind, while in a weak condition and 

 exposed, this did not in the least affect the success of the experi- 

 ment. Not only did these small oysters fatten successfully this 

 last summer, but those laid down in the month of April had 

 grown in six months to a remarkable degree, many having quite 

 added half-an-inch all round to the edge or frill of their shell. 

 Considering that they had to make up the loss caused by two 

 months' starvation in transit, and also become accustomed to 

 entirely novel conditions of existence, this growth seems to us a 

 very satisfactory proof of the suitability of our waters to their 

 constitutions. These oysters were of a superior character to the 

 ordinary American with its coarse mussel-shaped shell, having 

 a small, clean, hard shell, that augured well for the delicacy of 

 the fish. In all cases it may be predicted that a fish with a 

 coarse shell is coarse in its own character, seeing that the shell 

 is really the " skeleton " of a shell-fish ; and this holds good as 

 a rule in practice. 



The result of our experience hitherto with careful oyster 

 culture in Scotland, may be considered therefore under two 

 heads : — 



First, As to artificial collection of the spat in shallow w^ater 

 we have been unsuccessful, apparently from the same causes — 

 as yet unknown or only reasonably guessed at — as those affecting 

 other portions of the United Kingdom. So that we are unable 

 to consider ourselves otherwise than as still conducting a tenta- 

 tive undertaking, which may yet from southern analogy be a 

 future success. 



