Market Size and Annual Growth. 179 



The public, however, demand a large full-grown oyster. 

 Still, at times, odd ones do crop up, said to be nigh 5 inches 

 length and breadth. These latter are quite old shell-fish which 

 have got into nooks seldom dredged. Such examples the 

 Thames shrimpers at rare intervals formerly routed up in their 

 trawls in proximity to the Spaniards.* Genuine natives, 

 doubtless offsets of the Whitstable layings. The very smallest 

 of the marketable natives are 2 inches diameter, and seldom 

 many of these ; though a 2J inch one we have come across 

 after much searching a deep shelled little fellow full of meat 

 and delicious in flavour. 



Growth. The annual rate of growth of oysters in the Pont 

 natural bed is not known. Those on the cultivated layings 

 around Kent and Essex may thus be summarized. Say 

 spawned in July, in five or six months after they equal ^ inch 

 in diameter ; the " brood " next season (first year) run from 

 an inch and over; the "J-ware," or second season (17 or 18 

 months), = 2 to 2J inches, some more ; " ware," or third season, 

 = 2| to 3 inches diameter, when many go to market ; " full 

 grown," or fourth season, fit for market, but more fit at the 

 fifth or sixth year. But such calculations are liable to con- 

 siderable fluctuations in their accuracy. This inasmuch as the 

 temperature of the season, whether hot and calm or cold and 

 stormy, with other subsidiary circumstances, have to be taken 

 into consideration as to whether there be advance or retarda- 

 tion of growth conditions. Like other higher animals, con- 

 stitutionally unequal, some of the sedentary oysters grow 

 quickly, others slowly, or some may be more advantageously 

 placed towards food sources. Even whether spatted early or 

 late in the season tells considerably on their primary start in 

 life. Besides, frequently a small but deep oyster will contain 

 more flesh than a larger flatter shelled one. Hence size of 

 shell is not always the criterion of goodness. 



* In 1880, when with shrimpers in this neighbourhood, a monster oyster was 

 brought up one almost sufficient for a single meal. J.M. 



