THE OYSTEH FISHERIES LAWS. 59 



formation and cultivation of artificial beds, and the improve- 

 ment of the natural lieds. Burning live oysters for lime was 

 absolutely prohibited, and the leasing of areas for propaga- 

 tion encouraged. This Act, purely an experimental measure, 

 and which was passed in the face of strong opposition, did 

 good work in its season ; it brought the oyster fisheries 

 under partial ofiicial control, vastly increased the supply, 

 and secured a substantial revenue. In time, however, diffi- 

 culties arose as to the respective rights of lessees and licensed 

 dredgers ; the Act failed to meet the growing requirements, 

 and its administration became hopelessly confused. In a 

 very interesting address delivered before the Linnean Society 

 of New South Wales, Doctor James C. Cox, E.L.S., the 

 President thereof, and at the time the President of the 

 Pisheries Commission also, fully describes the misworking of 

 this Act, and the causes which led to the confusion. Dr. 

 Cox's paper will be found in the Appendix. Pepeated 

 representations of the irregularities which Dr. Cox thus re- 

 corded had previously resulted in the appointment, in the year 

 1876, of a Poyal Commission on Oyster-culture, consisting 

 of the Honorable Thomas Holt, a member of the Legislative 

 Council, the Honorable John Bowie Wilson, and James Squire 

 Parnell, Esquire, a member of the Legislative Assembly. 

 Each of these gentlemen had evidenced large interest in the 

 development of this important industry, and Mr. Holt, the 

 Chairman of the Commission, had, in addition, acquired a 

 practical acquaintance with the subject by a minute and 

 lengthened inspection of the methods of culture employed 

 on the Erench coasts, and which methods he afterwards 

 carried out, at an enormous outlay, on his own estates at 

 George's River. Unfortunately Mr. Holt did not obtain any 

 return for his expenditure ; he found that the claires which 

 he had constructed were not suitable to grow oysters in the 

 high temperature which prevails here during the summer 

 months. Mr. Holt's unfortunate experience may have been of 

 great value in diverting others from experiments in culture 

 in a similar direction. 



The Commission entered very exhaustively into the subject 

 entrusted to it, and took extensive evidence. It resulted in 

 its recommending the cancellation of improperly issued leases 

 of natural oyster-beds, and the substitution of a system of 

 licensing under a royalty, the leasing of ground for artificial 

 culture, and the registration or licensing of all persons 



