IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE. 13 



shell is made to meet the requirements of the fish ; by the same 

 means also young or adult oysters re-attach themselves to stones 

 or other substances when removed from the places to which they 

 first adhered. 



That oyster spat invariably rises when first emitted is a fact to 

 be appreciated in cultivation. 



The nature of the bed or soil on which the oyster rests is 

 a matter of the greatest importance, conferring as it does upon 

 the oysters there bred or deposited special flavour or other quali- 

 ties distinguishing them from all other oysters on adjacent 

 grounds, and this influence prevails to so great extent that 

 dredgermen can in a fog or dark night readily recognise their 

 position by the shape, size, or colour of the oysters brought up 

 by the dredge, and although the distance between such beds is 

 often small they are enabled accurately to steer for the harbour 

 from information of this peculiar kind. 



The nature of the soil is important in another aspect. Many 

 circumstances highly favourable to the growth and fattening of 

 oysters are the reverse for successful breeding. 



Growth and fattening will proceed where there may be a large 

 amount of fresh water and a strong current ; the former would 

 prove prejudicial to spatting, and the latter tend to prevent the 

 adhesion of spat at least in the locality at which it is voided. 



Good spawning grounds have on the other hand been found less 

 suitable for purposes of fattening — pure sea water and a clean 

 bottom, essentials for successful spatting, not being always advan- 

 tageous for the other purposes, hence it is usually found in rivers 

 and estuaries that oysters breed better at the mouth and fatten 

 best higher up. 



There are, however, instances where the two processes are found 

 to thrive simultaneously on the same banks. 



If we refer to early English history — to the time of the invasion 

 of our islands by the Romans — we discover that those warriors 

 had not landed long upon our shores before they became acquainted 

 with our oyster-beds, and British oysters soon formed an article 

 of extensive export to Rome. 



At this period oyster culture was conducted by the Romans in 

 the Lake Avernus on precisely the same principles as that recently 

 introduced into England. 



The present diminution in the supply of oysters appears to have 

 commenced some 10 or 12 years ago. 



Since that period a greatly increased demand for oysters has 

 resulted from the greater facilities of transport to places where 

 previously fresh oysters had seldom reached. 



Another circumstance has also added considerably to the 

 demand, viz., the more frequent use of oysters, owing to the 

 fashion prevalent both in England and France among the wealthier 

 classes of consuming them at almost every meal. This materially 

 enhances the price and has led to a vast increase in dredging. 



In 1855 the price for native oysters was 41 s. per bushel, and 

 in 1870 it is £10 2s. ; a similar rise has taken place in seconds, 

 while commons in 1855, were 3s. lOd. per bushel, and in 1870, 

 from 10^?. to 18s. 



