ox OYSTER-CULTURE IX SCOTLAXD. 279 



clreclgecl, as in Locli Eyan ; or completely cleared, as in some of 

 our small Highland and more accessible lochs. When this is 

 done, theory has been found to be entirely at variance with 

 resulting facts. The statement so frequently made that oysters 

 are so prolific that no bed can be dredged so completely but that 

 sufficient oysters will be left to replenish it, is never found to 

 hold good in practice. Allowing that the oyster will throw from 

 200,000 to one million spat, the chances seem against its remain- 

 ing where it is thrown; while on this point also, our own 

 experience is against the statement that the spat are then carried 

 away by currents to some bank in the vicinity, if not found 

 upon and around the parent oyster. Enough that our shores 

 are frequented all along by oysters, and that our banks have 

 became and remain denuded of them, and the question is next 

 how to replenish the one, and utilise the capabilities of the 

 other. 



In considering the difficulties attending oyster culture in 

 Scotland, the first place must be given to the action and inaction 

 of the Government in the matter. While professing to be 

 anxious to give every encouragement to the efforts of the public, 

 they somehow thwart them on every occasion by the mis- 

 chievous application of such laws as there are. We do not 

 greatly object to the fee of £60 demanded before any grant of 

 foreshore will be made, as the Government were almost forced 

 into this by the conduct of those who previously secured such 

 grants, only for the purpose of keeping the public out of their 

 neighbourhood, and obtaining such local fishery as there might 

 be, but witliout making any effort to cultivate the ground. The 

 above fee was no doubt meant as a fence to keep all but hona- 

 fide cultivators from claiming grants of foreshore. In the case 

 of extensive grants this is reasonable enough, but a distinction 

 ought to be made between a capitalist and a practical working 

 fisherman. AVe understand the French cultivators are all 

 tenants-at-will, but their property in their stocks is secured to 

 them. This, if properly administered without undue inter- 

 ference, is not an unfair arrangeraent, but unfortunately tlie 

 greatest complaints are always made against the administration 

 of the authority of the Woods and Forests with us, the wliole 

 idea of tlie department apparently being to increase immediate 

 revenue, so long as their action will be supported by law. We 

 do not believe that, under the present mode of administration in 

 vogue in tlie department, any body of fisliermen would invest 

 labour or money on the ])rinciple of tenants-at-will, they having 

 no confidence whatever in the loill as ordinarilv exercised. 



l)Ut even more important than the injudic^ious action of the 

 executive is the present state of uncertainty as to the rights of 

 any man in the foreshores, — a deadeninij condition of aflairs, 



