HISTORY OF THE OYSTER. 31 



others discovered since. If a fisherman happen to 

 meet with a bed that has not been found before, he 

 generally keeps it a secret as long as he can ; but, 

 when others find it out, the bed is so overworked, 

 that it is quite or nearly ruined for many years, which 

 probably is one of the causes of the decrease in the 

 supply. 



Ireland is also very fruitful in oysters, beds being 

 scattered nearly all round the coast : the principal 

 are, Clew Bay, Mayo; Ballisodare, Sligo; Westport, 

 Mayo; Mulroy, Donegal; Carlingford, Louth ; Killery, 

 Mayo ; Ballyconeely, Galway ; Kenmare River, Kerry ; 

 Blackrod Bay, Mayo ; Arklow, Wicklow ; Carrick- 

 fergus in Belfast Lough; Malahide and Poolbay, 

 near Dublin ; Red-bank beds and Lessadil, Clare ; 

 and Ardbeur Bay, Galway. The public banks, how- 

 ever, I am informed, are nearly exhausted from over- 

 dredging. 



Scotland also possesses many beds, as Loch Ryan, 

 a chartered loch, the property of Colonel Wallace, 

 from whom Hugh Kear tents the Scar bank. There 

 are a few oysters in Loch Fyne, but they are very 

 scarce, and of the large sort. 



The Frith of Forth beds are very extensive, and 

 yield large numbers. Natural beds also occur in 

 many localities among the adjacent islands. 



Several beds of small extent occur round the Isle 

 of Man ; one extends from near Douglas Lighthouse 



