THE WALLIS LAKE OYSTEH FISHERIES. 67 



stocked as ever. On crossing the creek to lease No. 898, at tlie 

 head of Goodwin Island, it will be found that the oysters 

 alter both in shape and quality, being a species of half-dredge 

 and half-banker. Passing along to lease No. 2,177 mag- 

 nificent oyster-bearing- shores abounding with oysters present 

 themselves. The shores all around Cockatoo Island are per- 

 fect natural oyster-grounds, and as such are, in tlie opinion 

 of the lessee, not to be excelled in any part of the world ; 

 one can start from the shore banks outwards for 100 yards 

 or more in a depth of water not exceeding 12 or 15 inches 

 in any part; the bottom is composed of cockle shells, as 

 indeed is all the lake floor of this splendid fishery. Prac- 

 tically, the whole of it is one vast natural bed, and the 

 covering water being both clear and shallow it is unsurpassed 

 for purposes of observation and experiment. 



The oyster in this lake is thick and cuppy as any genuine 

 dredge oyster and its flavour is not to be surpassed. Leases 

 No. 181, between the islands and the two leases at Clement's 

 Bay,Nos. 1,625 and 2,055, are of similar character and produce 

 as excellent oysters as those on the Cockatoo Island leases. 



At the mouth of the WoUomba River, on the left hand 

 side, is a broad oyster-bank extending across the water; close 

 inshore on the left-liand side is an artificial cutting? to allow 

 of the passage of small crafts up the river ; from this work 

 the great bank upon which the 03^sters grow so well has been 

 named the Cutting Bed ; it is a most prolific propagating 

 ground, its yields of oysters being simply immense ; the bed 

 is about 500 yards in length by from 100 to 300 yards in 

 breadth. It is curious that while the shores on the left-hand 

 side of the Wollomba Biver are for the most part oyster- 

 producing, those on the right-hand side are absolutely bare. 



Beyond the Cutting Bed is the Middle Plat Bed ; it pro- 

 duces a splendid, deep, well -flavoured oyster, but is remark- 

 able for an exceptionally hard shell. Th^ waters in this 

 fishery are evidently strongly impregnated with lime as may 

 be inferred from the unusual character of the shells. 

 Purther on is the top lease. No. 1,971, the Broadwater Bed ; 

 this bed is the deepest in the fishery and develops the largest 

 oyster ; when full grown they are round, deep, and full of 

 solid white flesh, and large as they are they possess all the 

 delicate flavour of the smaller oyster. This bed has not of 

 late years been contributing its quota of supply, but it is 

 now well stocked with brood and ware. 



