56 



too fat and die. The drought which prevailed in Kent, as in 

 other parts of England in 1901, was the cause of very little 

 fresh water coming off the land near Whitstahle. To this 

 shortage of rainfall is attributed the fact that the oysters 

 there did not fatten properly, and failed to reach the high 

 excellence of former years. The greatest depth of water 

 over the Company's beds at any tide is 22 feet, and the 

 least depth 6 feet. This is very different to the celebrated 

 beds at Cancale in Brittany and other places, which are 

 left high, and practically dry, at low tide, and where it is 

 an interesting sight to watch the fishermen and women 

 arranging and sorting the oysters, and selecting those fit for 

 market. The bay in which these beds are situate is very 

 large and well protected by high cliffs, but it seems odd 

 that the raised artificial banks between the various beds 

 should remain perfect for any length of time as they appeal- 

 to do. 



Careful culture of the oyster beds is of course one of the 

 requisites for the production of first-rate oysters, and it is 

 not improbable that it is owing to great care in cultivation 

 that the Whitstable natives have, for years past, even sur- 

 passed in popularity the old favourite " Milton Oysters," 

 which were formerly heard of among the cries of London, 

 and which were fattened on beds near to the Whitstable 

 grounds. It is literally true to say that the oyster beds at 

 Whitstable are as carefully prepared and maintained, 

 though always under water, as if they were flower beds on 

 shore. 



In view of the typhoid scare which 

 Typhoid Scare. sd/ed on the pu b lic mind> and caused 



for a time a great diminution in the sale of oysters, the 

 Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company in 1895 called in the 



