I06 CULTIVATION OF THE OYSTER IN BRITISH ISLANDS CH. 



known as " the Jm-y," manage the affairs of the company, which 

 finds employment for several thousand people, and sometimes 

 turns over as much as £200,000 a year. The term ' Natives,' as 

 applied to these Whitstable or to other English oysters, requires 

 a word of explanation. A ' Native ' oyster is simply an oyster 

 which has been bred on or near the Thames estuary, but very 

 probably it may be developed from a brood which came from 

 Scotland or some other place at a distance. For some unexplained 

 reason, oysters bred on the London clay acquire a greater delicacy 

 of flavour tlian elsewhere. The company pay large sums for 

 brood to stock their own grounds, since there can be no certainty 

 that the spat from their own oysters will fall favourably, or even 

 within their own domains at all. Besides purchases from other 

 beds, the parks are largely stocked with small oysters picked up- 

 along the coast or dredged from grounds public to all, some- 

 times as much as 50s. a bushel being paid for the best brood. 

 It is probably this system of transplanting, combined with 

 systematic working of the beds, which has made the Whitstable 

 oyster so excellent both as to quality and quantity of flesh. 

 The whole surface of the ' layings ' is explored every year by the 

 dredge, successive portions of the ground being gone over in 

 regular rotation, and every provision being made for the well- 

 being of the crop, and the destruction of their enemies. For 

 three days of every week the men dredge for ' planting,' i.e. for 

 the transference of suitable specimens from one place to another^ 

 the separation of adhering shells, the removal of odd valves and 

 of every kind of refuse, and the killing off of dangerous foes. 

 On the other three days they dredge for the market, taking care 

 only to lift such a number as will match the demand. 



The Colne beds are natural beds, as opposed to the majority 

 of the great working beds, which are artificial. They are the 

 property of the town of Colchester, which appoints a water- 

 bailiff to manage the concern. Under his direction is a jury of 

 twelve, who regulate the times of dredging, the price at which 

 sales are to be made, and are generally responsible for the 

 practical working of the trade. Here, and at Faversham, Queen- 

 borough, Kochester, and other places, ' natives ' are grown which 

 rival those of Whitstable. 



There can be no question, however, that the cultivation of 

 oysters by the French is far more complete and eflicient than 



