58 THE OYSTER EISHERIES. 



been lost. About four miles north-east from the Hunter 

 E/iver there are on the shore evidences of the existence of an 

 oyster-bed. At Catherine Hill Bay, an indentation of the coast 

 open to the sea, and near to which no inlet of any kind exists, 

 similar evidences are present. The same occurrence is to be 

 traced off the Crookhaven E-iver, and off nearly every lake 

 and river in the more southern districts of Pambula and 

 Eden. Indeed, off Merimbula an impromptu dredging 

 experiment, undertaken by Mr. P. W. Smithers, the travelling 

 inspector of fisheries, revealed the actual existence of 

 oysters on the sea bottom ; had the experiment been followed 

 up, there was every reason for expecting most successful 

 results. Is there not then ample warrant for assuming that 

 really untold wealth is waiting only to be gathered — that it 

 extends along the whole length of the coastal line, and needs 

 only development to become an important factor in the 

 supply of this nutritious food ? 



THE OTSTEE EISHEEIES LAWS. 



Until the year 1866 no thought seems to have been 

 bestowed upon the economic value of the oyster. So far 

 from any attempt to foster it for food purposes, this mollusc 

 was regarded merely as a superior material for the lime-kiln. 

 Other non- edible shell-fish existed in profusion, but lime from 

 the live oyster had an especial value and always a large 

 demand, and secured a high j^rice; consequently, oyster 

 deposits were placed under contribution to satisfy large con- 

 tracts. One contract is noted for the supply of 6,000 bushels 

 of lime from the shells of live oysters. To any casual observer 

 the criminality of this shameful waste ought to have been 

 abundantly obvious ; and yet when, in the year named. Dr. 

 John Bowie Wilson, in his place in Parliament, directed 

 attention to the matter, there were to be found legislators who 

 disputed the necessity for legislation to check the abuse, and 

 to l3rand as absurd his proposal to enact a law to establish a 

 property in oysters. About the end of 1867, Dr. Wilson 

 renewed the matter with more success — his efforts, in con- 

 junction with tliose of Mr. James Squire Parnell, also a 

 member of the Legislature, were the means of obtaining 

 an Act of Parliament, intituled the " Oyster Pisheries 

 Act, 1868." Its objects were the prevention of the exhaus- 

 tion and threatened extinction of the oyster-beds, the 



