366 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Beceipts. 

 To Sale of 750,000 Oysters 



at 7s. 6d. per 1000 . £281 



£281 



Expenditure 

 By Eent . 



,, Stakes and Boats 



,, Kope . 



,, Collectors 



,, Baskets 



,, Labour. 

 Balance (Profit) 



£18 



28 



82 



20 



2 



160 

 21 



£281 



But how can an industry showing only £21 profit per annum 

 flourish ? In the first place the above figures do not include the 

 sale of Mussels and fish caught on the estate ; in the second, the 

 farm is usually worked by the proprietor and his sons, the labour 

 therefore is not entirely a cash disbursement ; and in the third 

 place, the property is generally inherited from father to son, and 

 is gradually improved, so that the 13 guineas per annum for 

 depreciation, &c, may be neglected. But methods of lessening 

 the working costs are much needed to make the industry more 

 lucrative. Kent also is too high ; and Government do little to 

 encourage the industry. 



In Lake Fusaro is another example of the Italian or Tarantine 

 method, slightly modified. The bottom of the lake is generally 

 muddy, and in many places covered with posidonia. 



A maximum depth of 20 ft. frequently shoals to less than 3 ft. 

 The water is turbid and rich in organisms. The density at 63 J° F. 

 is 1022. One modification here introduced consists in forming 

 some 260 small mounds of stones (rocchi) in several parts of the 

 lake. On these are deposited a number of Oyster-mothers 

 brought from Taranto. Round these beds is planted a circular 

 shelter palisade, in the vicinity of which, when the spatting 

 season approaches, wicker baskets are sunk. Every morning 

 these baskets are examined, and as soon as spat is noticed, the 

 fascines used as collectors are immersed. Previously testing for 

 the presence of spat in this manner has a practical advantage, 

 in so far as the collectors are kept free from deposit and slime, 

 and the adhesion of the brood takes place more readily. For 

 mooring the collectors, stakes about 15 yards apart are planted 

 towards the centre of the lake, and united by a grass rope. To 

 this rope the collectors are tied, and weighted so as to be 

 immersed 1 to 3 yards, according as they are nearer to or further 

 from the stake. Other fascines are laid on the bottom. The 



