OSTRE AD2E. OYSTER. 131 



company of fishermen, ruled, like those of Faversham, 

 by certain ancient customs and bye-laws.* 



Jersey oysters are brought over and bedded in the 

 Southampton water. They are described as being 

 small, but of superior flavour, and are conveyed long 

 distances to be laid down, naturalized, and afterwards 

 sold as natives. They are also remarkable for their 

 saline flavour when first brought over, but it goes 

 off after they have been bedded some time at South - 

 ampton.f In 1876 Jersey oysters were very scarce, and 

 the beds in a bad condition. It is said that formerly 

 there were fine oyster-beds between Portsmouth, Hay- 

 ling, and the Isle of Wight ; and recently a breeding 

 place on the French system has been established at 

 Hayling Island, and there is considerable trade carried 

 on in oysters. 



There are extensive oyster-beds in the Medina and 

 Newtown rivers, in the Isle of Wight, and a large 

 quantity were bred in 1880, and were in good condition 

 up to 1881.J The manor of Osborne is said to derive 

 its old name of Austerbourne, or Oysterbourne, from 

 the oyster-beds of the Medina. A bed of oysters was 

 discovered off Eastbourne, some years since, the fish 

 being of a very superior and delicate flavour. The price 

 was Is. per hundred, but it rose to 2s.; and another 

 large bed, which was valued at 5000, was found about 

 three miles off the mouth of Dartmouth harbour, about 

 the same time. 



We read, in Britton's ' History of Dorset/ that there 



* Murray's ; Handbook, Kent and Sussex.' 

 f ' Field,' Note by the Editor. 



J * Oyster Culture and Oyster Fisheries,' by Professor Hubrecht. 

 ' A Guide to the Isle of Wight,' by the Rev. Edward Venables, M.A. 

 K 2 



