"SLIPPER LIMPET" OB "BOAT SHELL:' 411 



rence of a legal case* last July, wherein " Limpets " stood forth 

 prominently. At the trial were numerous practical oystermen 

 as witnesses. What struck one was the apparent contradictory, 

 though explainable, evidence given respectively by the Burn- 

 ham and West Mersea dredgers. The question resolved itself 

 into whether at end and settlement of a five-years' lease the 

 ground was left in an untenantable condition through the negli- 

 gence shown in clearing off the superabundance of ** Limpets." 

 For the plaintiff it was affirmed the " Limpets " ivere pernicious, 

 their quantities so enormous, t and their attachment to the 

 Oysters such as to impede the latter's growth, besides detraction 

 from their food. For the defendant it was asserted that " Lim- 

 pets " ivere not injui'ious to Oysters. The latter fed well, 

 even where surrounded by them, both rising or opening 

 simultaneously when feeding. They did not eat the Oyster- 

 spat. The more the "Limpets" the cleaner the ground from 

 mud. 



Notwithstanding individual diversity of opinions, it ultimately 

 came out that in the main both parties were unanimous as 

 follows : that the root and sore of the evil lay in the great 

 expense incurred by the Oyster-growers — in extra hands, time, 

 and labour bestowed — in dredging for the "Limpets," and the 

 chopping them off singly (by " cultack ") from their very firm 

 adherence to the Oysters. On the other hand, this constant or 

 over-dredging induced another evil, namely, it caused the young 

 Oysters to become " stumpy " or " dumpy " or " nubby " (local 

 terms for imperfect or broken rimmed), which considerably 

 lowered their mercantile value. In the words of one notable 

 Oyster-grower, " Limpets " — " if not ' vermin,' are a horrible 

 nuisance." The Oyster industry of Essex and Kent is therefore 

 on the horns of a dilemma, with no bright prospects in the 

 horizon. It behoves, then, those financially interested, with the 



* That of W. E. Campion (plaintiff) versus H. L. Brand Cooke (de- 

 fendant) relative to " The Eay " Oyster-laying on the Crouch Eiver above 

 Burnham. Judge Tindal Atkinson gave a verdict in favour of Campion, 

 owner of the grounds. 



f In one minute's dredging on the Crouch Eiver ground at issue four 

 hundred and ninety clumps of "Limpets" were counted. Another witness 

 stated that in the Blackwater grounds thirty-five tons of " Limpets " were 

 dredged within four weeks. 



