o'2 REPORT ON OYSTER CULTURE 



who promoted legislation on the subject ; hardly one of them has 

 proved a commercial success, judging by the reports furnished by 

 the proprietors in answer to the annual inquiries of the Board of 

 Works, whilst most of them must be regarded as total failures so 

 far as the production of oysters — the greatest object of all — is 

 concerned. 



In many instances the oysters laid down have fattened, and the 

 grants have thus proved advantageous to the grantee ; but this is 

 a matter of small moment in comparison with the main object — 

 increased production. 



In giving to individuals a monopoly of what was previously a 

 public right there is a power reserved in the later licences of 

 withdrawing the concession at the end of three years if in the 

 opinion of the Commissioners proper means have not been adopted 

 to fulfil the conditions upon which it was given. 



The exercise of this salutary provision is imperatively called for 

 with regard to the great majority of the persons in possession of 

 these grants, as the investigations- made by this Commission clearly 

 proved that, with rare exceptions, adequate means were not 

 adopted to promote breeding, in the way of laying down a suffi- 

 ciency of breeding stock, keeping the ground clean of mud and 

 weeds, providing proper cultch or other collectors — many of the 

 licensees contenting themselves with leaving the ground as they 

 found it, or at best supplying an insufficient quantity of oysters 

 for breeding purposes, laying down little or no cultch, trusting to 

 chance for obtaining a spat and reaping what benefit they could 

 from the oysters which were previously on the ground and the 

 fattening of those placed there. 



The Legislature never contemplated granting a monopoly of the 

 shores or sea bottom merely for such purposes. Where the 

 undertaking upon which such exclusive privileges were given is 

 not fulfilled it should be withdrawn. 



The Bally vaughan, Red Bank, and Burrane beds of county Clare 

 and that at Sneem in county Kerry are altogether used for fatten- 

 ing purposes. They do not appear to possess all the essentials 

 necessary for reproduction. 



The instances of tank or enclosed cultivation in Ireland are few, 

 embracing — 



1. Mr. Malcomson, at Tramore, county Waterford, about one 

 acre and a half. 



2. Mr. Power, at Kilmacleague, in the same neighbourhood, 

 under one acre. 



3. Mr. Sancles, of Carrig Island, on the Kerry side of the Shannon, 

 under one acre. 



4. Mr. Bland, at Sneem, county Kerry, consisting of about one 

 acre. 



5. Mr. Trench, at Derreen, county Kerry, comprising a space 

 of ground twenty yards by thirty yards. 



6. Mr. William Hart, at Fahan, Lough Swilly, comprising two 

 and a half acres. 



7. Mr. Henry O'Connell, at Burren, county Clare, a pond six- 

 teen feet long by eight feet wide. 



All have turned out failures, except No. 7. 



