THE OYSTER EISHERIES LAWS. 61 



Acts for ]3reventing the destruction of oysters consequeDt 

 upon the conversion of the shells of the live animals into 

 lime was maintained. A very brief practical experience of 

 this measure proved that it was in some respects unworkable, 

 and the assistance of the Legislature had again to be invoked 

 to cure the difficulties which had manifested themselves. 

 Consequently a new measure was introduced into Parlia- 

 ment, which eventuated in the enactment of the Oyster-beds 

 Act of 1884. Mr. (afterwards Sir) Alexander Stuart, the 

 head of the Government at the time, in moving the second 

 reading, said somewhat as follows : — " The necessity for the 

 Bill arises in this way. When the Eisheries Act of 1881 

 was passed the Colony had been suffering for a considerable 

 time under a system of leasing the oyster fisheries, which 

 turned out to be very destructive in its character, and it was 

 necessary, as these leases were about to fall in, to pass some 

 legislation on the subject. The late Government introduced 

 a Bill, which was passed, and it has proved to be utterly 

 unworkable, although no doubt it was passed with the very 

 best intentions — that of remedying the difficulties which had 

 grown up imder former legislation. These difficulties were 

 avoided to a considerable extent, but they were succeeded by 

 other difficulties of another character. A number of leases 

 to carry out the object of the Act, which was to improve 

 the culture of oysters, as contra-distinguished from the taking 

 up of the oysters wherever they have been naturally deposited, 

 have been applied for. The object of the Act is to increase 

 ' the culture of oysters. Applications for leases to the extent 

 of two or three hundred to carry out oyster-culture have 

 been made. The industry would no doubt be very beneficial 

 to the country, but, owing to the incompleteness of the Act 

 and certain restrictions, and other difficulties which have 

 arisen, it has been found quite impossible to grant those 

 leases in accordance with the intention of the law. 1 o 

 enable these leases to issue it has been found necessary to 

 introduce this Bill. I need not now enter into the various 

 provisions which are considered desirable for that purpose. 

 It will be sufficient to state that it is intended that the same 

 couditions shall apply to tidal waters which lie in front of 

 private property as to tidal waters which are in front of 

 Crown lands. It is not considered wise or desirable that 

 persons merely because they hai)pen to have land abutting 

 upon water should be able to act the dog in the manger. 



