IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE. 33 



Mr. Malcomson's consists of an excavated pond, extending over 

 about half an acre, and 18 inches deep, it is situated at a place 

 called the Back Strand, a considerable portion of which has lately 

 been reclaimed from the sea. Arrangements were made for the 

 admission of sea water when required ; about 20,000 oysters were 

 laid down, and fascines, oyster-shells, pebbles, and other descrip- 

 tions of collectors employed ; no pains or expense appears to have 

 been spared to insure success, but during the three years the 

 experiments have been going on not a single spat has adhered to 

 the collectors. 



It is quite possible that the pond was too shallow. That from 

 its small size and exposed situation it was too open to heat, cold, 

 or sudden changes of temperature ; added to this, the tide, before 

 it reaches the pond, sweeps over a wide expanse of sand and 

 carries with it a great deal of sand, scum, and debris, which might 

 more or less affect the well-being of the oysters. 



Mr. Power's pond — about the same size as Mr. Malcomson's — 

 is situated behind an embankment, and considerable trouble and 

 expense have been unavailingly gone to by the proprietor to render 

 the experiment successful. He takes much interest in oyster 

 culture, and has visited various places in France and England to 

 make himself acquainted with the best methods of cultivation. 



The same causes disadvantageously affecting Mr. Malcomson's 

 pond may have exercised a like influence over that of Mr. Power. 



Although oysters are said to have existed in the neighbourhood 

 formerly, none are to be found at present. 



The fattening grounds of Earl Fortescue and Mr. Power, in the 

 same locality, have answered satisfactorily, but no spat has been 

 obtained there. 



Mr. Sandes' small pond in the county Kerry, near the Shannon, 

 was unfortunately constructed above high water-mark, thus 

 necessitating the use of mechanical power to lift the water. 



The collectors here used are boards joined together resembling 

 doors and laid over the oysters. No spat has been obtained. 

 From the difficulty and cost of raising the water, it is probable 

 that it was not renewed sufficiently often. 



Mr. Bland's pond at Sneem is a small enclosure of the end 

 of a creek, but up to the present no spat has been obtained. No 

 information as to temperature, density, &c., could be obtained with 

 regard to these ponds. 



Mr. Trench's pond was a small enclosure in Kilmacologue Har- 

 bour. No spat was ever found in the pond, the gravel on which 

 the parent oysters were laid and the shells became partly buried 

 in mud and covered with slime. 



Mr. William Hart appears to have taken considerable trouble 

 with his enclosure, using various descriptions of collectors ; the 

 place appears well circumstanced, but we cannot say if there has 

 been any adhesion of spat. 



Mr. Henry O'Connell used in his small pond for collectors 

 parent oysters, old shells, stones, tiles, fascines, furze, and an old 

 hamper. He reports that the latter was a splendid collector, and 

 the shells, stones and oysters were very well covered with spat. 



