52 THE OYSTER FISHERIES. 



CHAPTEE V. 



THE OTSTEE EISHEEIES AND THE LAWS EEGULATING- 



• THEM. 



It will be assumed that the perusal of the chapter on the 

 fishinsj-grounds has supplied the reader with a sufficient 

 knowledge of the geography of the coast of New South Wales 

 to enable him, by the aid of an occasional reference to the 

 coastal map which accompanies this pamphlet, to apprehend 

 the position of the several waters which, in the present con- 

 nection, will engage his attention. 



So far as the oyster fisheries are concerned the classification 

 of the coastal-line into three divisions will for the sake 

 of convenience be disregarded. Oysters can be maintained 

 out of water in marketable condition for such a length 

 of time that supplies drawn from the remotest coastal 

 waters may be utilised for food with almost as much 

 facility as those taken from places quite adjacent to the 

 metropolis. Hence the whole coast can be placed under 

 contribution, and for the growth and culture of the oyster 

 there is no j)art of the world better adapted. The climate, 

 the nature of the coast-line with its innumerable inlets and 

 creeks, and the natural existence in several varieties of the 

 bivalve itself all combine to mark its suitability for successful 

 ostreiculture. Unlike the coasts of England and Scotland, 

 where the temperature in the summer months is often sufli- 

 cient to prevent the shedding of spat at all, and nearly always 

 to limit the quantity 'of it — here we have invariably the spat 

 distributed in almost unlimited profusion. And yet, notwith- 

 standing these unusual advantages, the fact has to be admitted 

 that at the present time the beds and deposits are not yielding 

 a sufiicient supply even for our o^Yn consumption. Time 

 was, and not very long ago either, when that supply was 

 more than sufiicient to satisfy the Victorian markets in addi- 

 tion to those of New South Wales. The causes which led to 

 the existing serious decrease can be traced, and to a con- 

 siderable extent they are, fortunately, capable of removal, or 

 at least of abatement. Imperfect legislation has been a 

 principal, though not the sole factor. About it something 

 will be said further on. Natural causes, and nature works on 



