30 REPORT ON OYSTER CULTURE 



However, should the Government at any time so desire, they will 

 be fully prepared to furnish a complete report with respect to the 

 oyster fisheries of the other portions of the United Kingdom, and 

 to recommend the measures which, in their opinion, should be 

 adopted for their preservation. Much, however, that is suggested 

 with respect to Ireland will be equally applicable to England. 



The oyster fisheries of both France and England were first 

 investigated by the Commissioners before they proceeded to Ire- 

 land, and thus they had the advantage of knowing, before visiting 

 the latter, every circumstance (as far as ascertainable) connected 

 with the decline of the natural oyster fisheries of the other two 

 countries, the success or failure which had attended attempted 

 artificial cultivation, and the opinions of the best authorities on 

 every point in connexion with the entire question. There was 

 the further advantage in reserving the visit to Ireland until the 

 last, as it could then be determined whether the modes of oyster 

 culture, which had proved most successful on the Continent and 

 in England, were applicable to Ireland. 



Many theories founded on the temperature of the sea in various 

 latitudes, and the effects of the Gulf stream, &c, having been 

 more or less discussed in connexion with the breeding of oysters, 

 it appeared desirable that simultaneous observations of the tem- 

 perature should be made in different parts of the sea coast of the 

 United Kingdom, and these observations were also extended to 

 France. 



The Admiralty were applied to for permission to direct the 

 Coast Guard to perform the necessary duty on being provided 

 with thermometers, which was readily consented to, and the work 

 most efficiently performed. (See Professor Hennessy's report, 

 founded on those returns, in the Appendix E.) 



The First Lord of the Admiralty was also kind enough to place 

 at the disposal of the Commissioners H. M. Steam Yacht " Vivid,'' 

 which enabled them to go round the entire coast of Ireland and 

 make the most searching investigations. 



The principal oyster fisheries, taking them in the order of their 

 magnitude, are those of Arklow, Wexford, Carlingford, Clew Bay, 

 Cork Harbour, Achill, Belmullet, Clare, Galway Bay, Sligo Bay, 

 Tralee, Belfast Lough, Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle, Estuary of the 

 Shannon, Waterford Harbour, Dungarvan. 



The Arklow and. Wexford banks extend for forty miles along 

 the coast at distances varying from three to fifteen miles. For- 

 merly, a considerable decrease in the yield had taken place, it is 

 believed, from over-dredging, consequent upon the increased 

 demand; but owing to the extension of the close season, at the 

 request of the fishermen, these beds now show an annual improve- 

 ment. 



Most of the oysters taken are bought for England to be laid 

 down in fattening beds, as they are considered deficient in flavour 

 when first taken from the banks. 



The number of boats now employed, some carrying eight dredges, 

 and a crew of six men, is 120 ; and the yield in the last season 

 was valued at £28,000. 



