of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



377 



oysters • and that these beds, though now for the most part either wholly 

 or partially dredged out, might once again be made productive if they 

 were scientifically cultivated and properly protected. This is a matter of 

 great importance to the islands, especially when we remember that the 

 oyster industry of Scotland is steadily falling off, and, indeed, may be 

 said to be almost extinct; the total value of Scottish oysters in 1885 

 being only £809, as against £2174 in 1884. In 1885, the once famous 

 and productive oyster beds of the Firth of Forth yielded only £273, and, 

 in 1884, £500. In 1885, only three of the Fishery Districts yielded 

 oysters, namely, Leith, Stornoway, and Ballantrae. 



Yet in Orkney, more than 300 years ago, oysters were both good and 

 plentiful, and in certain places formed part of the rent paid by the 

 tenant to the lord of the soil. Low tells us, in his Tour, that in the inner 

 basin of the Long Hope there were formerly oyster scalps which produced 

 oysters so large that they had to be cut into four pieces before being 

 eaten; and in Earl Patrick's rental of 1595, Aith inter alia paid '40 

 oistris for ilk Id. terrae'; Manclett, 80; and Binns, 40. The Bays of 

 Firth and Deersound used to be the principal localities for oysters in 

 Orkney, and so late as 1845 the former was fairly productive. The Old 

 Statistical Account of Scotland published about 100 years ago tells us that 



In this Bay [the Bay of Firth] excellent oysters, and of a large size, are found 

 in tolerable plenty. They are sold at a shilling the hundred. 



As much as £2000 worth of oysters have been sold out of the Bay of 

 Firth in a single season. But a fleet of boats came and dredged them all 

 out; since which time the oyster scalps have remained almost entirely 

 unproductive. Yet in the vicinity of the islands of Damsay and the 

 Holm of Grimbister, and in other parts of the Bay of Firth, and also in 

 certain localities in the Bay of Isbister, which is close to the Bay of Firth, 

 there are places admirably suited for oyster culture, and likewise in 

 Deersound, especially on the west side of the bay between Lakequoy and 

 Suckquoy, if only the oyster culturist could be secured in the enjoyment 

 of the results arising from the money expended in restoring these dredged- 

 out bays to their former condition of productiveness. Other countries 

 recognise the necessity of protecting the oyster culturist, and adopt strin- 

 gent means to do so. In the United States of America, for example — 

 where the annual production of oysters is between 5000 and 6000 millions 

 — they have recently appointed a salaried Oyster Protector for the State 

 of New York, whose duty it is to supervise the oyster beds.^ 



Perhaps there is no place in Orkney that would be more suitable for 

 oyster culture than the Peerie Sea, which runs into the Bay of Kirkwall 

 under the high road to Finstown. The tide flows into and ebbs from 

 this shallow salt-water lake, which is about a mile and a half in circum- 

 ference, and which, from its position, could be easily and cheaply 

 overlooked and protected. I noticed various parts of the Peerie Sea 

 where the bottom is suitable for oysters. But in other parts it might 

 require to be cultched, and star fish, dog whelks, and other enemies of the 

 oyster destroyed. Of course, it would be necessary to prevent the 

 discharge into it of town sewage, gas refuse, and other deleterious matters. 

 The Peerie Sea belongs, I understand, to the town of Kirkwall. 



The lower reaches of the Loch of Stenness would probably be found 

 excellent for the laying down and fattening of oysters, as the presence of 

 a certain amount of fresh water and a current — such as exist for some 

 distance above the Bridge of Waithe — are favourable for the fattening of 

 oysters, though they would be unfavourable for breeding and spatting 

 purposes ; pure sea- water and a clean bottom being most suitable in such 

 circumstances. 



