HISTORY OF THE OYSTER. 35 



be those fit to send to market, removed into them 

 from the feeding-beds. 



My reasons for lengthening the fence time are that 

 it would suit all fisheries round the coast ; prevent the 

 spat being injured so much by the dredge, as the 

 shell would have become harder in the additional 

 fortnight ; and the fish, just filling for spawning in 

 April, would not be disturbed and expel their spawn 

 before it is ripe. 



I am aware that a question will arise, viz. what 

 are the fishermen to do during the fence months 

 for employment? Some are necessary as watchers 

 to keep off trespassers ; the feeding-beds would have 

 to be levelled and prepared with gravel or old shells 

 to give them a proper surface; boats' rigging and 

 fishing tackle to be made new, or repaired. In 

 many localities, trawling, line-fishing, and herring- 

 fishing might be carried on, and in others salmon 

 might be caught ; some might be also employed 

 in conveying the fish to market, in cultivating their 

 gardens, in dredging shell-sand and collecting sea- 

 weed for agricultural purposes ; others in improving 

 the harbours, for which Government ought to find 

 the whole of the necessary funds, or, at all events, 

 a portion ; and in erecting and improving convenient 

 buildings for salting : so that altogether I think there 

 need be no lack of employment ; and I am quite sure 



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