m 



OYSTER-CULTURE AT TttE LONDON EXHIBITION. 



919 



Until the year 1870 the 03\ster fisheries in Holland were free 5 they 

 were then carried on principally in the Zuyder Zee, and in the eastern and 

 western branches of the Schelde. Fish of prey had rednced the stock 

 of oysters to a minimum, so that it became evident that nature had to 

 be aided if the oyster was not to disappear from the fauna of the 

 Netherlands. During the same year a railroad dam was constructed 

 between Korth Brabant and South Beveland, whereby the east and west 

 branches of the Schelde were completely separated, the former being 

 transformed into an immense salt-water basin, whose narrowest entrance 

 is between Gorishoek and Ijersekeudam. The basin is bounded on the 

 north by Tholen, on the west and south by South Beveland, and on the 

 east by North Brabant. The Dutch at once saw the great advantages 

 of this basin for oyster-culture. With a view to assisting the oyster 

 industry, all oyster-fishing was jirohibited on the coast of Holland, 

 which could easily be done, as the Government is the owner of the en- 

 tire coast, and as a special license is necessary in order to use the beds 

 and other localities suited to oyster-culture. 



The basin of the Schelde is divided into about 300 square parts, which 

 are rented out at public auction to the highest bidder for a period of 

 fifteen years, the annual income from the rents of the entire basin 

 amounting to 21,000 florins [$8,442]. Since that time oyster-culture 

 has made very rapid progress, and is now exclusively concentrated 

 around the east branch of the Schelde. 



During the period from 187G to 1882 there were exported from the 

 Netherlands the following quantities of oysters : 



* 1,200 oysters are generally calculated to make 84 kilograms. 



These figures show great progress since 1877. The last year alone 

 shows a decrease ; but the reason for this must be sought in the cir- 

 cumstance that the oysters, from various causes, were much smaller 

 than usual. The published reports state that during the year 1882, 

 barrels intended to hold a thousand oysters held from 1,200 to 1,600. 

 The average price during the last few years was 60 florins [$24.12j per 

 thousand. 



Already during the summer of 1884 the area which would become free 

 in 1885 was sold at public auction. The portions were then rented out 

 for the next five years, that is, until March 31, 1890. The new renters, 

 however, have the privilege, under certain conditions, of renewing their 



