244 On the Geographical Distribution and Uses of the 



tober to March. The consumption is said to be greatest 

 during the hottest months after the commencement of the 

 oyster season ; the warmer the weather, the more oysters 

 are consumed. They are brought to market in craft of va- 

 rious sizes ; they are packed in bulk closely in the hold ; in 

 some cases, a cask of salt-water is kept, from which to 

 sprinkle them superficially. Those that come by rail are 

 packed with their convex shells downwards in bags and bar- 

 rels. From the boats they are transferred to the salesmen, 

 who keep them in a little salt and spring w^ater, and shift 

 them every twelve hours. Some pretend to improve them 

 by " feeding" them with oatmeal. Oysters, like other bi- 

 valves, live chiefly on infusoria. The quantity consumed an- 

 nually in London varies in different seasons. One informant 

 states 20,000 bushels of natives, and 100,000 bushels of com- 

 mon oysters, to be about the mark ; another estimates the 

 quantity sold in the season, from the 4th day of August to the 

 12th day of May, to be nearly 100,000 London bushels, each 

 bushel being 3 Manchester or imperial bushels ; and that 

 about 30,000 bushels of natives are sold during the same pe- 

 riod by various companies. During the season commencing 

 on August 4, 1848, and ending May 12, 1849, Mr Wickenden 

 estimates about 130,000 bushels of oysters to have been sold 

 in London, though of that quantity about one-fourth was 

 sent away to various parts of the United Kingdom and the 

 Continent. 



The oyster-fisheries are protected by legislative enact- 

 ments. Vai'ious acts of Parliament have been passed for the 

 better preservation of the oyster-beds, and prevention of 

 trespass upon them. To steal oysters is a larceny ;* to 

 dredge on an oyster-bed unlawfully or wilfully, is being 

 guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fine — the fine not to 

 exceed £2^ — or imprisonment three calendar months. It is 

 as well that ardent conchologists should know these (to them) 

 obnoxious enactments, for otherwise they may find the search 

 for a new or rai*e species, at the wrong season of the year, 



* 31st Geo. III. c. 51 ; -18th Geo. Ill , c. 144 ; 7th and 8th Ck-o. IV., c. 29. 



