566 EEPOKT — 1891. 



healthy state, the shells being discoloured and wanting in 

 solidity, and the contained oysters being in the poorest possible 

 condition. 



Should the interpretation here suggested be correct with 

 relation to the diseased condition of the New South Wales 

 oyster-fisheries, it is evident that the prospects are but small 

 of recovering the ground lost to oyster-culture in the several 

 districts affected. It will consequently be incumbent on the 

 oyster-growers of that colony to make the most of the water- 

 area left to them where the \vater is pure and not liable to be 

 invaded by the disease ; and, if they are ambitious to regain 

 that position formerly held, in which the colony was inde- 

 pendent of supplies from external sources, they will require to 

 turn their attention to the culture of the mollusc on a far 

 more scientific basis than has been hitherto attempted in New 

 South NA^ales waters. It is somewhat surprising in this con- 

 nection to find how imperfect a comprehension of this most 

 important branch of aquaculture is possessed in quarters 

 where the fullest technical knowledge might be naturally 

 looked for. Letters have recently appeared in the Sydney 

 Morning Herald from the pen of a leading oyster-merchant in 

 that city, dealing with this question of oyster-culture. No 

 need would have arisen for taking notice of these letters had 

 it not been for the fact that they have been reproduced in all 

 good faith in a Government report of a neighbouring colony • 

 as representing the latest and most accurate information on 

 the subject treated. Through the public prominence given to 

 these letters they are therefore, if not as publicly refuted, cal- 

 culated to mislead the Australian mind concerning the 

 achievements and capabilities of scientific oyster-culture, and 

 to retard progress in what may be anticipated in the near 

 future to develope into a necessary and highly-important 

 industry. 



The Fkench System. 



The French system of oyster-culture, which owes its 

 inception to M. Coste, who has won by it a world-wide 

 reputation, is characterized in the documents referred to as 

 having been " a dead failure in Europe, hundreds of thousands 

 of pounds having been lost on it in England and France." 

 Among other matters, and as a final perversion of the truth, 

 the absurd statement is made that " but few people in France 

 have had as much experience in oyster-culture as many of us 

 (in New South Wales) have had, so that, instead of Freiich- 

 men being able to teach us, we can teach them." The ex- 

 planation of this tirade against M. Coste and his system of 

 culture is apparently furnished by the fact that steps had 

 been taken to introduce a parliamentary Bill providing for the 



