63 



years, and the present system of granting licences abolished; 

 also, that in the event of the discovery of beds hitherto un- 

 known, the discoverer shall have a pre-emptive right of leasing 

 at an average price." The advice contained in this report is 

 clear. The natural beds (if it is desirable that the oyster 

 should not be exterminated) should be leased by auction for a 

 period of 21 years, residence by the lessee, or his agent, being 

 made a guarantee of good faith. A denuded oyster bed thus 

 leased would give no return whatever for four years, therefore 

 I argue that 21 years is not too long a lease. A liberal law is 

 required if it is considered desirable to attract capital ; the 

 idea of sub-dividing beds, as recommended by the select com- 

 mittee, is, I think, a mistake. The Whitstable and Faver- 

 sham oyster grounds occupy a space of 27 square miles, and I 

 think it necessary for the growth of Tasmania that there 

 should be larger undertakings by greater combination of effort. 

 As regards the destruction, now almost compelled, nothing 

 but an alteration in the law will avail, and no proclamation of 

 oyster beds being closed for one or more years will do more 

 than produce a temporary benefit, since the same destroying 

 influence will still be at work. Once the beds are in the 

 hands of private companies or individuals, self-interest will 

 protect them, — at present self-interest is employed in running 

 a race of destruction. In England deep sea oysters are not 

 allowed to be sold between May 14th and August 4th, but the 

 shoal water oysters are protected between May 1st and March 

 1st. The Tasmanian law makes the close season one month 

 longer, or from October 1st ; but no amount of close season 

 will compensate for the absurd practice of letting anybody 

 dredge oysters for 10s. a year. On the other hand a system- 

 atic working of the beds would give employment to a far 

 greater number of men than at present earn a livlihood by 

 the trade, and they, like the Whitstable men, might become 

 shareholders, or take shares as part wages. It is likely that 

 there are many deep sea oyster banks ; but who would, in the 

 present state of the law, care to find one ? 



4th. Gteneral Eemarks* 



Although the foregoing remarks apply entirely to oysters, 

 it may not be amiss to make a few observations about fisheries 

 in general. In England fish of all kinds are yearly becoming 

 dearer. Although it may be considered a matter of impossi- 

 bihty to exhaust the fish supplies of the boundless ocean (by 

 those who have never given the matter thought), there is 

 ample evidence that it is not only possible, but probable, that 

 the fish supplies of Great Britain will fall short, though that 

 very fact may save them from complete exhaustion. 



As with oyster scalps, so with the haddock shore fishery, 



