COLLECTING " BROOD. 



2G3 



oysters. Very large sums have occasionally been paid by 

 the Whitstable Company for brood with which to stock 

 their grounds, and great quantities are collected from the 

 Essex side. There a number of people gain a sufficient 

 livelihood by gathering oyster-brood on the public fore- 

 shores, and disposing of it to persons who have private 

 nurseries, or " oyster-layings," as they are) locally called. 



UNLOADING THE OYSTER-SMACKS. 



Large quantities of spat are yielded by the grounds of 

 Pont ; a fine open space of water, sixteen miles long by 

 three broad, free to all comers. Here about one hundred 

 and fifty boats, each manned by three or four men, are 

 constantly employed in obtaining young oysters, which 

 they sell to the neighbouring oyster-farmers, although it 



