THE GEOrvGE's RIVER OYSTER EISHERIES. 69 



off Milsou Island, and Mullet and Mangrove Creeks. There 

 are not any deepwater beds in the Hawkesbnry lliver, except 

 in Berowra Creek, but oysters taken from the shores and 

 placed in suitable localities thrive rapidly. There is no 

 general time for spatting — it occurs in different parts at 

 different times. The shores of the lower main river, especially 

 those of Dangar and Long Islands, are very prolific as 

 breeding-grounds and spat collectors ; indeed, as already 

 stated, all the shores of the lower river are especially suitable 

 for this purpose. At the present time the river is practically 

 bare of oysters — its proximity to Sydney and the facilities 

 which exist for transit to all parts of it have had their effects 

 in keeping the shores in a denuded state ; adding to this the 

 extensive ravages of the worm, it might be concluded that 

 culture would be next to impossible, but it is not so ; the 

 ostreal fertility of some of the creek tributaries, Mooney 

 Creek especially, is so great that it needs only a comparatively 

 short time of closure against oyster gathering to enable it to 

 recuperate. The Commissioners of Fisheries, availing them- 

 selves of the very imperfect provision in this regard which 

 the existing law enacts, are endeavouring to effect such a 

 closure. The result will be looked forward to with interest 

 and with hopefulness, for it is on record that in former years 

 the ware of oysters laid in Mooney Creek developed in ten 

 months into a full-sized marketable article. 



GEORGE'S RIVER OYSTER-BEDS. 



These beds, like those of the Hawkesbnry, have suffered 

 materially from the ravages of worm and man — their proximity 

 to Sydney has rendered their denudation, that is, so far as the 

 foreshore oysters are concerned, very easy of accomplishment; 

 nevertheless, these likewise possess great power of recuperation 

 and with such reservation from gathering as can be given to 

 them the day may not be distant when the beds will have 

 resumed their old producing powers. The first bed in this 

 water is at Woniora Point, at the entrance to the river, the 

 second at O'Connell's Bay, about a mile up ; at this latter, in 

 about 12 feet of water, is a natural bed — another such bed 

 exists at Caravan Point. The oysters here are of the mud 

 and deep-water kinds, and exist in medium quantity. At 

 Points Neverfail and Jewfish the oysters are obtained by 

 diving, being covered by 25 to 40 feet of water ; they are 



