62 



seemed to me to thrive better between high and low water- 

 marks. Of all the artificial oyster beds in England, the most 

 noted, and the only one of which it is my intention to write, 

 is the Whitstable. To quote from Chambers : — " The Whit- 

 stable Oyster Company is a well-organised industry of the 

 co-operative kind, the proprietors of the farm being also the 

 labourers who work it, and it is most systematically ' worked,' 

 both during the season and in close time. The company is 

 possessed of a very large stock of oysters, which they purchase 

 as " brood " from wherever it can be obtained. These young 

 oysters are laid down to grow and fatten, and are most care- 

 fully tended and watched till they are large enough to be 

 sent to market, it being a rule of the company to wait till 

 they can obtain the highest possible price for their goods. 

 Only a certain quantity is dredged each day, the sales being 

 regulated by the state of the market. Great care is required 

 in breeding oysters ; the artificial layings at Whitstable are 

 therefore under constant inspection, the different beds being 

 turned over from time to time in order to the removal of 

 dead or diseased ' natives,' — likewise for the capture and re- 

 moval of some of the numerous enemies of the mollusc which 

 are always to be found haunting the different beds. About 

 Whitstable and Faversham the oyster grounds occupy a space 

 of nearly twenty-seven square miles; and it has been computed 

 that ^160,000 per annum has been paid away as wages to 

 the men connected with the various companies. The Whit- 

 stable oyster layings are managed by a jury of twelve men, 

 who are elected by their fellows ; and it is an article in the 

 constitution of the company that no member can be 

 elected into it — he must be born in it — so that sons succeed 

 their fathers as workers and shareholders." 



The company not only utilises its own spat, but purchases 

 brood as well ; perhaps their ground is not naturally adapted 

 for securing the spat, but, whether or not, if the mere fattening 

 of oysters is lucrative, they are wise to avail themselves of it. 

 It would appear, as with sheep-farming so with oyster-farm- 

 ing, one run or bed may be favourable for breeding and another 

 for fattening. 



3rd. Desiderata for the Renovation of Existing 

 Oyster Beds. 

 There seem to be many places admirably adapted for the 

 propagation of the oyster, and there are persons ready to risk 

 capital if they can obtain a long lease of one or more oyster 

 beds. The substance of the report of a committee of the 

 House of Assembly is as follows : — " The propagation and 

 preservation of the oyster in the natural beds would receive a 

 stimulus if the oyster beds were sub-divided into convenient 

 lots, and let by public auction for a term of not less than 14 



