of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
195 
deep, exhibited a profusion of oyster growth that it would be difficult to 
match in this country These oysters ranged in age from one to three 
years, and the valves were thin and well formed, the development of 
periostracLim being good. The shallowness and narrowness of the en- 
trance, coupled with the relatively small depth of this arm, are features 
favourable for oyster culture. When such a prolific growth of oysters 
can take place, where no attempt is made at oyster culture, the applica- 
tion of approved methods of culture, both as regards the collection of 
spat and the feeding and fattening of oysters, should enhance the value of 
Linne Mhuirich as an oyster-producing area. 
Loch Tarbert, in Jura, also furnished me with oysters. The description 
of the quantities of oysters that this loch could formerly yield 'by barrels' 
shows that its condition then was much better than what it is at the 
present time. Still it has not been completely bared of its oysters ; 
several of a diameter of 5, 4, 3J, and 2 inches were obtained. The 
youngest only indicated a growth of one and a half to two years, and was 
attached to a valve of Venus linda. The oldest had very thick shells, 
were covered with sponges, and were taken from the muddy ground at the 
upper anchorage, as set down on the Admiralty chart. The shells were so 
thick, and the marks of annular growth so obliterated, that they can only be 
described as aged oysters. The organs of reproduction were in a forward 
condition, and when punctured the spermatzoa separated freely from the 
sperm atophores and the ova from the other ovarian cells. The specimens 
with ovaries developed in excess were in the proportion of two to one 
where the testes were not developed. 
Loch Creran is one of the West Coast inlets where oyster culture has 
been tried. The inducements offered by the abundant existence of oysters 
in this loch in former times are great^ and in no case ought a fact like 
this to be lost sight of in coming to a conclusion as to the suitability or 
otherwise of ground for oyster culture. Oysters were obtained last 
summer on the north side off Rudha Garbh, and on the south side 
opposite Barcaldine. The oysters were mostly aged, and their thick 
shells were perforated by holes, either the result of sponge or whelk 
borings. The Barcaldine oysters were as much as 4| inches in diameter, 
and ranged down to 2J inches. The oysters obtained at Rudha Garbh 
were thinner in the shell and smaller. From the build of the shell, 
which pointed to the age of the oysters being between two and three 
years old, I took these to be descendants of the Morbihan oysters which 
Mr Anderson Smith imported and laid down in Loch Creran some years 
ago — at least they exhibited the characteristic shape, size, thickness, and 
colour of shell of French oysters of the Brittany coast. Most of the Loch 
Creran oysters were coated with very old barnacles. In all the Loch Creran 
oysters gathered early in June the reproductive products were unripe. 
Loch Spelve, in the south of Mull, furnished in its northern arm, from 
the muddy bottom, only a few black oyster shells ; but along both shores 
of the southern arms I obtained a few rock oysters. Tlicse were gathered 
from the foreshore, detaching them from the rocks to which they were 
comented. The former abundance of oysters in this loch has stimulated 
an interest in oyster culture in this part of Mull, but there are other lochs 
in Mull which olfer more promise for oyster culture. The drawback in 
the case of Loch Spelve, that is absent in other Mull lochs, is, that it opens 
towards tlie east l)y a C()ini)Hratively shallow eti trance, and that the depth 
inside is as much us 29 fathoms. The oysters ranged from 4J to 2 
inches in diameter, and were for the most part fat and well filled, though 
the smaller were thin and not well filled. All of them were unripe, and 
of those examined the majority had the female organs at a more advanced 
