OYSTERS IN THE FORTH. 251 



Of late years there has been a tendency to rise in the 

 dredgers' wages, as in the wages of all other operatives. 



In the Firth of Forth the organization is very defective ; 

 and though the firth has been rightly described as " one 

 great oyster-bed," the supply of oysters is far below the 

 demand, and. what ought to be an important industry 

 seems in a fair way of perishing. From Inch (island) 

 Muckra to Cockenzie, the oyster-beds extend over a length 

 of twenty miles, and range from one mile to three miles 

 in breadth. The bivalves are of excellent quality ; parti- 

 cularly those called Pandores, which are obtained off 

 Prestonpans. It is said that their fine flavour is owing 

 to the refuse water which escapes from the neighbouring 

 salt-pans. The beds producing them are now greatly 

 neglected. From inquiries made quite recently, we can- 

 not find that any system, of cultivation is pursued, or that 

 they are under any careful or enlightened management. 

 Large quantities of the brood are sent southwards to 

 supply the oyster-beds in the estuary of the Thames. 



We agree with a writer in the Cornhill Magazine, that 

 " the wholesale spoliation now going on at the oyster-beds 

 of the Firth of Forth is greatly to be regretted, although 

 we think it is destined to work its own cure, for the beds 

 once thoroughly exhausted from the over-dredging which 

 is now going on and it is so great that the oysters con- 

 sumed in Edinburgh will soon have to be brought from 

 London will in all probability be given over to persons 

 to restock on the plan now so popular on the Continent, 

 and the fishermen be very properly deprived of the chance 

 of ever again despoiling them." This was written ten 

 years ago, but as yet no improvement has been effected. 

 The Firth of Forth seems to have been "intended by 



