220 FISH CULTUEE. 



I need not comment upon the above letter fuitlier 

 than to say, that I believe that such treatment of our 

 fishermen is entirely illegal and unjustified by any 

 treaty whatever, and is an arbitrary exercise of power 

 which, were such a thing attempted towards a French 

 boat, would produce correspondence and diplomatic 

 uproar. To show how productive of mischief the 

 laxity and supineness of our cruisers is, I may men- 

 tion that, a shoit time since, an affray ensued between 

 one of our Eamsgate fishing-boats and a Trench boat, 

 in which one of the Frenchmen lost his life ; and the 

 case is, I believe, still pending for inquiry. 



In considering our sea fisheries, the formation and 

 protection of oyster-beds is a subject which ought 

 to receive the special attention which so delicious 

 and valuable an edible deserves. In England, in 

 certain favoured localities, as the eastern coast, 

 companies have had the cultivation of oysters in 

 hand, and are making a handsome revenue from 

 supplying the markets; but they are few, com- 

 pared with the wide fields which are open to such 

 cultivation. In Ireland, the attention of many 

 gentlemen has been particularly turned to this 

 product; and during the year 1860, seventeen 

 gentlemen have obtained licences for the planting of 

 artificial oyster-beds on various parts of the coasts. 



