OSTREA. 313 



man. These beds are now recruited from the Irish 

 coast. 



In order to obtain the most recent information respect- 

 ing the oyster-beds which supply the London market, the 

 extent of the supply, and the opinions of those practi- 

 cally concerned in their management, and in the sale of 

 their products, on points in the history and value of 

 what may be termed cultivated oysters, we drew up a 

 series of queries, to which, .chiefly through the obliging 

 interest taken in the inquiry by Mr. J. S. Sweeting, of 

 159, Cheapside, we have received from that gentleman,* 

 and from other well-informed quarters, very full replies, 

 the results of which we now give in a condensed form. 



The oyster-beds from which the principal supply for 

 the London market is procured, are those of Whitstable, 

 Rochester, Milton, Colchester, Burnham, Faversham, and 

 Queenborough, all artificial beds, furnishing natives. Since 

 the introduction of steamboats and railroads, considerable 

 quantities of sea-oysters are brought from Falmouth and 

 Helford in Cornwall, from the coast of Wales, the Isle of 

 Wight, and neighbourhood of Sussex, and even from Ire- 

 land and Scotland, after the winter sets in, as before they 

 would not keep fresh enough when brought from long dis- 

 tances. The supply derived from natural beds varies 

 much, since on some of them the oysters are not sufficiently 

 abundant to pay for dredging. The sea-oyster is often 

 before being brought to market kept for a time in arti- 

 ficial beds in order to improve its flavour. 



The most esteemed oysters are those of the small, ovate, 

 but deep-shelled variety, called natives, among which those 

 of the river Crouch, or Burnham oysters, are pre-eminent 



* We have to return many thanks to Mr. James Wickenden of Rochester, 

 and Mr. W. H. Williamson, senior, of the same town, for very full information. 



VOL. II. S S 



