Fishery Hoa rd for Scotland. 
xxxiii 
Loch Ryan, where the banks yield a small return, and are let out in 
lots to several oystermen, and West Loch Turbert, Argyleshire, 
where a system of oyster farming somewhat on American lines 
has been started and is apparently doing well. 
In all the other cases, where indiscriminate fishing is carried on, 
and where no system of supervision exists so as to protect the 
oysters during spawning time, or from their enemies, the beds are 
reduced to such a condition that, even if now protected, it is almost 
certain they would be unable to recover themselves without the 
planting of new seed or some artificial assistance. On the West 
Coast, however, there are still several localities where, either from 
the oysters being considered private property, or from the position 
being far distant from market, natural beds do still exist, and where 
the native oysters are in sufficient numbers to form the nuclei 
of extensive oyster farms, from which the over-fished oyster beds 
of other localities might be restocked. On the West Coast, the 
configuration of the land varies so much, that different methods 
of oyster culture would have to be resorted to in different localities, 
or combinations in a great many different ways arranged. 
It has been suggested that, by way of inducing others to take up 
the cultivation of oysters commercially, a start should be made by 
taking in hand some one of those beds in the Western Highlands 
already referred to. That the ground should be dredged over 
thoroughly, and cleaned of all enemies to the oyster ; that some 
method of spat collecting be fixed upon (to be determined upon by 
the nature of the locality), provided that it is so inexpensive as to 
be practicable if taken up by others for commercial purposes ;• and 
that the cultch or collectors being in position before the spawning- 
season, a fair trial of oyster culture may be made. At the same 
time, if possible, the trial of another method of spat collecting 
might be made in a different locality, for the purpose of comparison. 
The mere planting of new oysters on old beds has been shown 
by the failure of several individuals to be useless. As a rule, the 
old beds, through want of supervision, have become the home of all 
manner of animals which prey upon the oyster. The planting of 
new oysters is therefore nothing but a method of feeding those 
animals. Foreign impure matter in the water would, of course, 
also cause destruction. 
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF COD AND OTHER 
FOOD FISHES. 
The artificial propagation of cod and other marine fishes is now Now carried on 
carried on in the United States, Norway, and in other countries JLY 1 !. 1 *?? 
• i iii t i i 1-- ti n i States, New- 
with remarkable success. It appears to be a law ruling all fish foundiand, and 
life, and to which it is impossible to believe the cod forms any els ewhere. 
exception, that when the young fish have come to maturity they 
return to their birthplace in order to spawn, and never fail to do 
bo during the whole term of their existence. The late Professor 
Baird, whose knowledge of the subject was unequalled, states the 
law as follows : — ' In regard to the sea fisheries, one important 
