BY J. C. COX, M.D., F.L.S. 557 



spawn at the same time (25th August) as those do at the first 

 mentioned exposed bed." The difference in size Mr. Woodward 

 believes to be entirely attributable to their being always covered 

 with water, but in this I differ with him. 



Some notion of the value of this important fishery may be 

 made when I tell you that Mr. Woodward has during his recent 

 trip to Cape Hawke superintended the laying down of 3,000 

 sacks or 9,000 bushels of the oysters from the last mentioned 

 exposed bed to the other beds in the vicinity ; a sack of oysters 

 at present is valued at £2, so that this last operation represents 

 a value of £6,000. 



On the above facts Mr. "Woodward thinks that the Rock 

 Oyster and the Drift Oyster are one and the same species, but I 

 feel quite sure that the more this subject is studied the more 

 certain it will be proved that you cannot replenish the Drift 

 Oyster beds with Rock Oysters. jSTo doubt Rock Oysters will 

 improve when placed in a position where they receive more 

 nourishment, such as the position where Mr. "Woodward has from 

 watchful care and experience placed them in, but this does not 

 prove that they will live and thrive and alter their character 

 so much if deposited at the bed up the river in deeper water as 

 to be converted into another species. 



Por many years I have dredged in our Australian Coast waters, 

 and my friend Mr. Brazier has had still larger experience in 

 dredging than I have in these waters, but Mr. Brazier tells me 

 he has never known a Rock Oyster dead or alive from deep beds 

 such as are occupied by our Drift Oysters, and I certainly endorse 

 his opinion. If they were the same would you not expect that 

 at least in some position you would be able to trace the beds 

 of Drift Oysters running direct into the beds of the Rock 

 Oysters. The finest Rock Oysters are found in greatest per- 

 fection a few inches below dead low water mark, but you never 

 find them under any circumstances in deeper water attached or 



