45 



Culling Oysters. 



Fishery Company voluntarily extends the close-time for 

 natives till "Partridge Day," the ist of September. The 

 customary observance of a close-time for native oysters, 

 chiefly in order that spawning may not be interfered with, 

 has given rise to the popular impression that oysters should 

 only be eaten in the months which have an R in their 

 composition, though this rule does not affect foreign 

 oysters, which can be obtained all the year round. When 

 the " brood" stage has been reached, or at a later period, 

 the oyster can be dredged up from the flats to which it has 



