36 HISTORY or THE OYSTER. 



that any loss at first, when the whole system had got 

 into working, would be amply repaid. 



I. was for some time of opinion that oysters differed 

 in their times of spawning in deep and shallow water, 

 and am still so ; but the data I at present possess are 

 so meagre, that I cannot confidently assert that the 

 difference is very great. Of one fact I am, however, 

 pretty certain, — that they do not spawn so freely; 

 and in water over 20 fathoms, I believe, not at all. 



There is one point which ought invariably to be 

 imposed on beds which are reduced to proper work- 

 ing order : — a chain- dredge should never be used 

 where it can possibly be avoided until after Christmas 

 in each year, hides and nets being substituted. There 

 are, however, some beds on which the chain-dredge is 

 indispensable, where the stones are sharp and angular. 



