164 NEW SOUTH WALES 



The further conditions and provisions, subject to which a long term 

 lease for oyster culture is granted, are stated in section 28, and 

 the penalties for injuring or interfering with oyster layings on 

 such leases, in section 30. It should be observed that, before 

 a lease can be granted, the notice of application for it must be 

 published in the Gazette and some newspaper of local circula- 

 tion. Objections on the ground of the area applied for con- 

 taining a natural oyster-bed or part of such a bed may be 

 lodged with the Commissioners within thirty days after the last 

 published notice of application ; and an inspector may be sent 

 to the locality to report as to the site of the lease applied for, 

 and the validity of such objections. The lease may be revoked 

 on default for two years by the lessee in taking proper measures 

 to form oyster-beds or layings in terms of the lease. 



(2.) Annual Shore Lease for Oyster Culture. — Under this form of 

 lease any portion of the shore of a tidal water (not exempted 

 or created a public oyster reserve under the Act) may be leased 

 by the owner, lessee, or occupant of land abutting on the 

 shoi'e, at the rental of £\ for every 100 yards or portion 

 thereof. The lease ranges from the margin of mean high- 

 water-mark down to an imaginary line defining an average 

 depth of 3 feet at lovhwater of spring tides. The lease must be 

 renewed annually, and the rent is payable in advance. It is, 

 moreover, subject to such conditions and provisions as the 

 regulations may prescribe. The lessee has the exclusive right 

 during the currency of the lease (subject to the conditions and 

 provisions just mentioned) of cultivating and protecting oysters 

 within the limits of his lease, and of taking them for all pur- 

 poses except burning for lime. He will, however, be required 

 to mark out the position of his leased area by piles, stakes, or 

 buoys, as directed by the regulations. 



Public Oyster Reserves. 



The Governor in Council is empowered to declare any part of the 

 shore abutting on any tidal waters, and any portion of the bed of any 

 estuary, bay, lake, inlet, river, or creek influenced by the tides to be 

 exempt from the leasing provisions of the Act, or to be a Public Oyster 

 Reserve, subject to such regulations as may be framed under section 9. 



Royalty ox Dredged Oysters. 



Holders of dredging licenses dredging oysters on natural oyster-beds 

 and layings belonging to the Crown, are required to pay for every 

 reputed three-bushel bag of oysters a royalty not less than Is. 6d. and 

 not more than 4s. pe?* hag. The royalty will vary for different rivers, 

 and must be paid to the persons and in the manner directed by the Re- 

 gulations, 



Oyster-dredging Licences. 



Dredging for oysters on natural oyster-beds and layings abandoned or 

 withdrawn from lease is prohibited, except to holders of oyster-dredging 

 licenses. These licenses must be taken out either annually at a fee of 

 £\Q, or quarterly at a fee of £3. The annual license beai'S date from 



