. '39 



and when the spat is sufficiently large, to remove them for 

 the stocking of new beds, a suggestion, which I should 

 think would certainly answer, if too much weed did not get 

 entangled in them, the spat attach itself to the half-decayed 

 weeds instead of to the wood, and they did not smother the 

 old oysters which happen to be under them. This, however, 

 I think, like other points, is a matter lor experiment. Hampers 

 or baskets made similarly to lobster-pots, only without bot- 

 toms, and moored in a similar manner, might answer better, 

 would not destroy the oysters underneath, and could be more 

 easily moved. I believe also that sheets of galvanized iron, 

 bent into the form of a low arch, merely touching at the two 

 ends, and sunk with a galvanized wire and a piece of wood 

 attached to find them again, would answer the purpose. 

 Copper-wire must not be used, or galvanic action will take 

 place. On beds, however, where mud and sand are liable to 

 collect, I should be very cautious in sinking anything, as a 

 mud-bank is soon made, and not so easily got rid of. There is 

 no doubt, however, that any mode that will collect the spat, 

 which would otherwise be destroyed by being washed away 

 with the mud and silt, or deposited on unsuitable ground, 

 would be most desirable, and a great saving of fish. 



Mons. Coste's plan of dividing the beds into zones, and 

 only returning to them every two or three years, would be in 

 many places absolute ruin to the beds, unless the oysters 

 were cleaned and redeposited : they would, in fact, very soon 

 take the form of natural beds which had not been worked ; the 

 oysters would become coarse, covered with barnacles and 

 other parasites, and adhere together ; and the beds would, in 

 fact, have to be rebroken up. 



The police regulations proposed by Mons. Coste are very 

 good, except that 1 think the present fence-month, as I have 

 proposed, would be better extended ; and I do not consider 



