55 



said to have a rim of chalk round the inside. The " Royals ' 

 are small and specially selected from the " Natives," and 

 hence their high excellence and price. 



The fresh water which contributes so 

 Fresh Water. much to the high qualitv of the Roval 



Whitstable oyster is neither that of the Thames nor the 

 Medway, both of which, probably, sweep wide of these 



- ! 



Bringing Oysters ashore. 



beds, but the two or three streams or " freshets " which 

 flow off the marsh-lands between Whitstable and Faversham 

 Creek, over the beds and flats. These small streams obtain 

 some warmth from the sun in their narrow courses, and 

 perhaps convey certain seeds of water plants and other 

 products which make for fattening, and supplement their 

 marine diet of infusoria and microscopic vegetables. Too 

 much fresh water is bad for ovsters. for thev mav become 



