63 THE WALLIS LAKE OYSTER TISHERIES. 



of tlie most prolific in the river, like some of the others 

 descrihed, failed in its producing poAvers for several years ; now 

 it is one of the most heavily stocked. There are three other 

 leases, in reality one bed, locally known as the Ptocks ; this bed 

 is about three-quarters of a mile in length and extends in 

 several parts right across the river. After many years of 

 barrenness oysters made their appearance here about eighteen 

 or twenty months since, and it noAV contains a heavy stock. 

 Another bed, locally known as Latham's bed and Shoobert's 

 Rocks, contains a splendid crop of oysters nearly fit for 

 market. On Syron's bed oysters thrive well, are in plenty, 

 and are of a first quality. The beds thus briefly described 

 comprise the whole of the fishery. 



Erom what has been written it will be gathered that the 

 Manning Fiver beds as a whole failed absolutely in this 

 yield during the whole decade from 1880 ; the causes of the 

 failure are unknown ; as a matter of conjecture it may be 

 attributed to the absence of the due proportion of salt in the 

 water necessary to their existence ; but the cause, whatever 

 it may have been, is evidently removed, and with the care 

 and the attention being bestowed by the lessees who are 

 judiciously husbanding their stocks it may be confidently 

 expected that this erstwhile prolific water will shortly resume 

 its position as one of the principal of the Colony's fisheries. 



WALLIS LAKE OYSTER FISHERIES. 



Oysters in this lake occur immediately within the heads, 

 but owinor to the streno;th of the sea- water are of small size. 

 Passing upwards to Breckenridge's Creek, which more properly 

 might be termed a river, are to be found the foreshore 

 oysters or bankers as they are properly termed ; bankers in 

 shape, and in quality not to be excelled ; this is the only 

 part of the fishery in which this class of oysters are produced; 

 the two leases therein, Nos. 711 and 551, comprise all the 

 mangrove and cobbler's pegs (mangrove roots) ground ; 

 branching from the shores are many little creeks taking their 

 rise not far back in the land ; these two leases are splendid 

 catchment grounds for the spat from the spawning oyster ; 

 the practice adopted by the lessee, Mr. Henry Woodward, 

 has been to remove the young brood and more or most of it 

 higher up the lake on better growing and fattening ground, 

 but the catchment areas become, in a few months, as thickly 



