356 Professor Huxley [May 11, 



in which the young successfully reach their fixed stage. The supply 

 is therefore very precarious. Moreover, it is by no means easy to find 

 localities, suited for oyster-parks, which must be protected from 

 storms, and yet have free access to the sea ; shallow, and yet not 

 liable to become too hot in summer or too cold in winter ; open to 

 currents which bring nutriment, and yet not liable to be silted 

 uj) by mud. Even when all these conditions are fulfilled, much 

 labour and watchfulness are needed to keep the beds clean and free 

 from the incursions of enemies. And, when all that skill and 

 industry can do is done, ostreiculture is attended with no less risk 

 and uncertainty than agriculture in a variable climate. Favoured by 

 one or two fortunate spatting years, M. Coste made ostreiculture the 

 fashion a quarter of a century ago. A large capital was embarked, in 

 France and in this country, in establishing oyster-parks, but it may 

 be questioned whether more than a small fraction of the investment 

 has ever found its way back into the pockets of the investors ; and, in 

 many cases, the results have been disastrous. 



The increasing scarcity and dearness of oysters were subjects of 

 complaint twenty years ago, and the outcry has become louder of 

 late years. Three causes, and only three, so far as I know, have been 

 assigned for this unsatisfactory state of things : first, the increase in 

 the demand for oysters, owing in large measure to modern facilities of 

 transport, consequent upon the vast development of the means of 

 locomotion ; second, an unusual succession of bad spatting years ; 

 third, over-dredging, that is to say, the removal of so many oysters 

 from the oyster beds that the number left is insufficient to keep up 

 the stock. 



That the first and the second of these causes have had a great deal 

 to do with the matter is beyond doubt ; but, whether any harm has 

 resulted from simple over-dredging is a question respecting which 

 very different opinions are entertained, and I have already stated 

 my reasons for reserving my opinion on the subject. But I shall 

 suppose, for argument's sake, that all three influences are in operation, 

 and proceed to ask what can be done by legislation to mitigate their 

 evil effects. 



A sumptuary law restricting the consumption of oysters, per head, 

 is not practicable in these days ; and therefore, the first cause of dear- 

 ness, great demand, must be left to cure itself by the increase of price 

 to which it gives rise. 



Nor is the second cause of scarcity within reach of legislation. 

 The seasons cannot be rendered favourable to oyster spatting by Act 

 of Parliament. 



But it is very generally believed that the enforcement of what is 

 called a " close time " is an effectual remedy for over-dredging. Oyster 

 " close time " means that oysters shall not be taken during the mouths 

 of May, June, July, and August, which are supposed, not quite 

 accurately, to cover the breeding season of the shell-fish. 



