572 BEPOET— 1891. 



rocks near high-water mark. The overhanging ledges of larger 

 rocks, and the shady sides of stone jetties or embankments, are 

 invariably found to attract and support the greatest amount of 

 oyster-brood, and this shelter, which is naturally sought, 

 plainly indicates the lines that may be most profitably followed 

 in operations connected with the artificial cultivation of the 

 species. 



South and Western Australia. 



My personal experiences will not permit me at the present 

 date to enter at any length upon a discussion of the nature 

 and prospects of the oyster-fisheries of the colonies of South 

 and Western Australia. Excellent oysters, of fine quality and 

 magnificent proportions, allied to Ostrea eclulis, are, however, 

 to my knowledge exported from Spencer's Gulf, in South Aus- 

 tralia, to the Victorian markets, and more especially to Ballarat. 

 Some of these South Australian oysters are of such Brobding- 

 nagian dimensions that it is customary to cut them in four 

 pieces for sale at the oyster-saloons, the quarters thus divided 

 being severally allotted to separate shells of ordinary size and 

 sold as single oysters. The stunted tropical variety of the rock- 

 oyster {Ostrea glomerata) has been collected by me at Port 

 Darwin and Cambridge Gulf, in the Northern Territories of 

 the respective colonies named, and doubtless attains, or would 

 attain, to its normal growth in the more temperate regions of 

 their coast-lines. 



It would be a matter of presumption on my part to preach 

 to the people of New Zealand on the subject of their oyster- 

 fisheries, I not having as yet set foot on New Zealand terri- 

 tory. This privilege, however, while denied to me on the pre- 

 sent occasion, I look forward to enjoying at no very distant 

 date, in which event the oyster-fisheries of the colony will not 

 be among the least attractive objects to engage my attention. 

 Of the gastronomic excellence of New Zealand oysters in 

 general, and of the Stewart Island species in particular, the 

 crowd of witnesses now assembled at Christchurch can doubt- 

 less furnish abundant testimony. It remains for me chiefly to 

 congratulate the colony upon the abundant stores of oysters of 

 diverse varieties she possesses, and to express the good wish 

 that she may long occupy her leading position as a producer 

 and exporter of the favourite mollusc to other countries. The 

 days for the systematic artificial cultivation of the oyster in New 

 Zealand have apparently not yet arrived, and with a careful 

 husbanding of her natural resources they may be long delayed. 

 The lessons taught, however, by the dearly-bought experiences 

 of older- established communities must not be lost sight of, and 

 in the heyday of plentifulness and prosperity it is well to lay to 

 heart the words of wisdom that have fallen from the lips of no 



