O24 UNDEVELOPED RESOURCES OF MARINE FISHERIES. 
entirely marine, I should like to say a few words concerning the 
oyster. This shell fish is, and has been, a considerable source of 
revenue to many districts, but unfortunately there are many places 
where they were once plentiful and now do not exist. This is 
not always due to man’s meddlesomeness, and in many cases the 
cause of their disappearance is a complete mystery. I knew a 
very fine bed away up the West Highlands, north of Strome 
Ferry, some years ago, which existed in a sheltered bay about 
two fathoms down in beautifully clear water—they were very little 
molested, and to all appearance had been established there for 
generations. One fine day the building of a shooting lodge was 
commenced fully a mile away on the shore, and before it was 
completed the oysters had died out. No one knew why, but as 
the building and destruction of the bed happened at the same 
time, the natives concluded they had something to do with each 
other. At anyrate, no other explanation was ever forthcoming, 
but it must be admitted that other beds have disappeared with 
even less apparent cause. The partial failure of the oyster crop 
round our coasts, excepting in the few places where they are 
cultivated, has led to a supply of foreign shell fish, often of very 
inferior quality, finding its way into the English and Scottish 
markets, and the buyers have become so accustomed to this 
regular supply.that they will not trouble their heads about inter- 
mittent consignments from our own coasts. As the result of 
enquiry, I find that the buyers require—(1) Regular supplies ; (2) 
Even sizes ; (3) Oysters not more than five years old. It appears 
that an oyster is at its best at four years of age, and where they 
are under cultivation they are despatched when they have 
attained it. 
SoLwaAy POSSIBILITIES. 
Perhaps it is not very well known that there are consider- 
able oyster beds in the Solway lying untouched. In Wigtown 
Bay there is a large bed seldom, if ever, fished, and off St. 
Bees Head they are lying many feet thick on the bottom, but I 
was told they were not marketable. One consignment of 400 
dozen sent to Manchester did not make enough to pay the rail- 
Way carriage. From time to time I have examined these oysters. 
They are huge fellows, well nournished, but the bulk of them 
are ancient and tough. Their shells are overgrown and heavy, 
B- 
