Oyster Varieties; Distribution. 175 



scattered offsets of cultivation in the majority of cases grow 

 and mature into a fine native oyster. 



Varieties. The oyster inhabiting the estuary of the Thames, 

 or original native, is the 0. edulis ; but conchologists admit 

 several varieties, differing in the nature of the shell. That 

 known as var. Rutupina* is distinguished by the neatness and 

 regular oval shape of the shell. It was the oyster the Romans 

 prized, and it is said still sparsely exists in a semi-cultivated 

 state near Reculvers and towards Margate. There is a small 

 shelled flat variety of a greeny-brown colour which is found 

 occasionally on the backs of crabs or on shells the var. 

 parasitica of naturalists. Its stunted growth is doubtless 

 attributable to defective nutrition from being carried about 

 by its host and food consequently curtailed. Another larger 

 variety, with coarser, thickened shell conchologists var. hip- 

 popus is little else than the deep-sea oyster of commerce. 

 These two latter varieties are relatively rare at the Thames 

 mouth, the last indeed trending beyond the territorial limits of 

 the estuary. 



Distribution. Let us take a brief survey of the oyster's 

 former distribution on our coasts, temporarily discarding the 

 great oyster farming centres. Even at present there are beds 

 of deep-sea oysters in the English Channel, to wit, near the 

 Ridge and Variie Shoals. These are extra-territorial, but still 

 furnish occasional dredging grounds for S. Kent fishermen. 



The genuine Rutupian natives of the modern Pegwell Bay 

 neighbourhood are a matter of ancient history, for Richborough 

 and Sandwich no longer are sea-washed or oyster- bearing 

 grounds. Seldom more than dead " valves " are now met with on 

 the Shellness beach. Off the Margate Sands about the Wedge 

 Buoy and Queen's Channel, small patches of natives now and 

 again turn up. Here in 1870 a rather nice oyster bed was 

 found ; but the news no sooner spread than 75 smacks from all 



* Named from Rutnpium (= Richborough), which during Roman occupation was 

 the eastern fort guarding the then broad navigable channel leading into the Thames 

 at the western fort Regulbium (= Reculvers), Thauet then being truly an isle. See 

 sketch maps, Gattic, "Memorials of the Goodwin Sands," 1HIH). 



