0Y8TKE OULXrVATION AT FALMOUTH. 188 



drift- weed from the sluices and pool; twelve heaped barrow- 

 loads being carried away from the pool in one day. 



Towards the close of March, the spat on the tiles was 

 considered large enough to be removed ; and a gauze case for 

 the reception of the young oysters was made under the kind 

 superintendence of my friend Mr. J. B. Tilly. This case was 

 firmly fixed six inches from the bottom of the pool by means of 

 four posts which were driven some distance into the ground and 

 then fastened to the four corners of the case by means of 

 screw-bolts. 



Almost directly after the young oysters had been detached 

 from the tiles and placed in the cage, hot weather set in, and it 

 was not till the 9th of June, that I considered it prudent to run 

 out the greater part of the water in the pool and examine them. 

 On that morning during the ebbing tide, both sluices were 

 opened, and when sufficient water had escaped to allow one to 

 wade in and inspect the case, the sluices were again closed. I 

 then discovered that one end of the case had been wilfully 

 smashed in, and many of the young oysters lost in the rubbish 

 in the bottom of the pond. Those that remained were found to 

 have doubled their size in six weeks and three days ; sufficient 

 evidence, in my opinion, to show how admirably this pond 

 is suited for oyster-culture. 



I may also state that early in the spring of this year a 

 school of young Mullet {Mugil capita), took up their residence in 

 this pool, and finding the high temperature agreeable, and 

 plenty of food to be got, have remained there ever since. 

 "Within the past few days I ran the greater part of the water 

 out of the pool, during a calm cloudless day, to make my monthly 

 examination of the young oysters, and I was gratified to find 

 that these Mullet had increased in size and were as large as a 

 fair-sized Pilchard. I have no doubt they will grow much 

 larger if they are not disturbed. 



Since the 9th of June I have managed once a month to make 

 a careful examination of the oysters in the case, and on each 

 occasion removed two specimens ior more careful inspection. 

 These specimens were not selected, but were invariably taken at 

 random ; and so one can obtain a very good idea of the rapid 



