I06 CULTIVATION OF THE OYSTER IN BRITISH ISLANDS chap. 



known as '' the Jury," manage the affairs of the company, which 

 finds employment for several thousand people, and sometimes 

 turns over as much as .£200,000 a year. The term 'Natives,' as 

 applied to these Whitstable or to other English oysters, requires 

 a word of explanation. A ' Native ' oyster is simply an oyster 

 which has been bred on or near the Thames estuary, but very 

 probably it may be developed from a brood which came from 

 Scotland or some other place at a distance. For some unex- 

 plained reason, oysters bred on the London clay acquire a greater 

 delicacy of flavour than elsewhere. The company pay large 

 sums for brood to stock their own grounds, since there can be 

 no certainty that the spat from their own oysters will fall favour- 

 ably, or even within their own domains at all. Besides pur- 

 chases from other beds, the parks are largely stocked with small 

 oysters picked up along the coast or dredged from grounds 

 public to all, sometimes as much as 50s. a bushel being paid for 

 the best brood. It is probably this system of transplanting, 

 combined with systematic working of the beds, which has made 

 the Whitstable oyster so excellent both as to quality and quantity 

 of flesh. The whole surface of the ' layings ' is explored every 

 year by the dredge, successive portions of the ground being gone 

 over in regular rotation, and every provision being made for the 

 well-being of the crop, and the destruction of their enemies. For 

 three days of every week the men dredge for ' planting,' i.e. for 

 the transference of suitable specimens from one place to another, 

 the separation of adhering shells, the removal of odd valves and 

 of every kind of refuse, and the killing off of dangerous foes. 

 On the other three days they dredge for the market, taking care 

 only to lift such a number as will match the demand. 



The Colne beds are natural beds, as opposed to the majority 

 of the great working beds, which are artificial. They are the 

 property of the town of Colchester, which appoints a water- 

 bailiff to manage the concern. Under his direction is a jury of 

 twelve, who regulate the times of dredging, the price at which 

 sales are to be made, and are generally responsible for the 

 practical working of the trade. Here, and at Faversham, 

 Queenborough, Rochester, and other places, ' natives ' are 

 grown which rival those of Whitstable. 



There can be no question, however, that the cultivation of 

 oysters by the French is far more complete and efficient than 



