48 TUB OYSTER. 



inhabitant," rented certain oyster-beds, famous amongst 

 Cornish gourmets for a breed of oysters, which, it is 

 said, the Phoenicians, ''a long time ago," had discovered 

 to be infinitely preferable to the watery things they got 

 at home. These Helford oysters are regidarly brought 

 to London ; but when Tyacke rented the beds they were 

 unknown to the good citizens who frequented the oys- 

 ter taverns, of which the Cock in Fleet Street is but a 

 last lingering type. Determined to make his venture, 

 Tyacke loaded a fishing smack with the best produce of 

 his beds, and coasted along the southern shores, till 

 passing round the Isle of Thanet he found himself in the 

 Mouth of the Thames. Little did the elated oyster 

 dredger think that that Mouth would swallow up the 

 whole of his cargo ; but so it came to pass. It had long 

 been evident to those on board that oysters that travel, 

 no less than men, must have rations allowed on the 

 voyage, if they are to do credit to the land of theii' birth. 

 ;N'ow the voyage had been long and tedious, and the 

 oysters had not been fed, so Tyacke got into his boat, 

 and obtained an interview with the owner of the spot at 

 which it touched land. He asked permission to lay 

 down his oysters, and feed them. This was granted, and 

 after a few days the spores of ulva latissima and entero- 

 morpha, and of the host of delicate fibrous plants which 

 there abound, and all of which are the oyster's great 

 delight, made the whole gi'een and fat, and in the finest 

 condition for reshipment. Four days, it is said, will 

 suffice to make a lean oyster, on such a diet, both green 

 and plump ; and Tyacke, joyfiil at the improvement 

 which he daily witnessed, let his stock feed on for a 



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