OSTREADJE. OYSTER. 71 



beds, which are found on many parts of our coasts. The 

 artificial beds require much labour to keep them in 

 order, and free from shells and rubbish. The common 

 mussel is an enemy to the oyster, as it causes mud to 

 collect ; and the starfish and whelk feed upon them, as 

 do crabs and other shell-fishes. Dr. Paul Fischer states 

 that the oyster-beds at Arcachou have suffered consider- 

 ably from the havoc caused by Murex erinaceus, which 

 has appeared in great numbers within the last ten years. 

 It is known by the name of cormaillot, or perceur, and 

 incessant war is waged against it ; but the numbers do 

 not decrease. Again, cold weather has a most per- 

 nicious effect upon the spat, for if the water is not 

 warm enough the spat dies. Oysters will not even 

 spawn if the weather is too cold.* Some of our prin- 

 cipal beds are those of Whitstable, Rochester, Colches- 

 ter, Milton, Faversham, Queensborough, and Burnham. 

 Colchester has been celebrated for its oysters from a 

 remote period, and they were deemed an appropriate 

 present from the authorities of the town to ministers of 

 state, and other eminent persons. We hear of their 

 having been sent, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to 

 Leicester and Walsingham.t At the annual Colchester 

 Oyster Feast, held in the Townhall, October, 1862, 

 Mr. Miller, M.P., mentioned that Mr. Goody, clerk 

 to the Colne Fishery Company, with himself and a 

 few other gentlemen, had appealed to the Treasury, 

 because it was apprehended that Belgium, to which a 

 large number of oysters are sent, was about to impose 

 a duty which would inflict a serious injury upon the 

 town. However, it was found from the interview that 



* ' Times,' Mr. Buckland's Letter on Oysters, Aug. 3, 1864. 

 t Cromwell's Hist, of Colchester, toI. ii. 



