PREFACE. 



Very little is really known of the history and 

 surroundings of the fishermen whose lives are spent in 

 cultivating the Whitstable oyster. 



It is true they do not have to seek their living far from 

 home, and for that reason are not shrouded in quite so 

 much romantic mystery as their brethren of the herring 

 fleet, or the deep sea trawler. Yet the dredger, who 

 w T orks along a few miles of the coast, frequently encounters 

 as much peril in his lively smack, as those who have 

 to face it in deeper water and larger boats. 



This small volume lays no claim to being an exhaustive 

 account of the Whitstable industry, though it may, 

 perhaps, add a little fresh information for those who are 

 interested in oysters, and more especially in the " Royal 

 Whitstable Native." 



My thanks are specially due to Mr. W. H. Reeves, 

 of Whitstable, for nearly all the photographs used as 

 illustrations. 



A. O. COLLARD, 



8 Buckingham Street, Strand, 



London, W.C. 

 fuly, 1902. 



MS70946 



