EUROPEAN METHODS OF OYSTER-CULTURE. 
401 
Parliament in tlie practical question of regenerating the industry and of fostering 
oyster-culture. The public has, even to a remarkable degree, been extravagant in 
supporting financially almost every experiment at artificial culture ; this interest being 
doubtless caused by the increasing price of oysters, and not a little influenced by the 
proofs of the successes of continental culturists, which were notably shown at the 
International Fisheries Exhibition held in London in 188.3. Scientists, foremost 
among whom was Prof. Huxley, became greatly interested in the biological side of the 
oyster problem and were always willing to offer their counsel. Parliament in impor- 
tant sittings discussed at length the matter of fishery legislation*, published reports 
on foreign methods of culture, and investigated with the greatest minuteness and care, 
by select committee, the causes of failure of spat and of the decadence of the industry. 
But with all these cares there was ever in the way an obstacle which people and 
Parliament, in spite of the temporizing experiments of the past quarter of a century, 
have been unable to successfully evade. To what degree would it be wise on the part 
of government to absolutely restrict the public fishery in preserving public lands'? 
This question is clearly one that comes directly in conflict with the ancient rights of 
individuals in the public fisheries. To effect decided changes, perhaps even minor 
ones, in this fishery system, would be an absolute measure which touches the liberties 
of the British subject, and would be opposed just as even the concessions that have 
been granted for cultural purposes are seriously criticised a.s reducing the public 
grounds and robbing the dredger of- ancestral rights. Parliament has endeavored to 
move conservatively, and has itself considered and granted by special act all of the 
newer concessions. Its action, however, appears to be more and more regulated 
by the advisory reports of the fishery inspectors of the Board of Trade, a board 
which thus becomes directly intermediate between Parliament and people. On the 
part of the fishermen the position of the ancient Fishmongers’ Company is one of 
great influence. This company, as is well known, does the most beneficial and disin- 
terested work in assuring the character of the fish supply of London, and in the 
efforts to regenerate the oyster fishery its action in assisting the government is wise 
and* exceedingly liberal. Its recent position in restricting the sale of oysters during 
the summer has already been noted (p. 397). 
Conservatism on the part of the government as to public rights in natural oyster 
regions has given the dredgers every possible opportunity to carry on their industry 
unrestrictedly, excepting of course during the summer months. If no more stringent 
methods have been undertaken, it has been partly because there have been no pressing 
complaints on the part of culturists for the betterment of the industry. To purchase 
seed oysters raised artificially on the Continent has been an alternative not distasteful 
to Auray or Zeeland, not lacking in profit to the English culturist, and giving the 
British market an abundant supply of oysters, but a supply for whose expensive pro- 
duction the public must pay. The dredger is gradually finding that his ancestral 
right to the public grounds, which he has struggled to retain, and which government 
has generously allowed (giving him the benefit of the doubt as to whether its preserva- 
tion would not in the end prove more valuable), is not after all of great value in the 
absence of natural oysters, and that all the profits in the industry must belong to 
capitalists and companies who deal in foreign oysters, and in whose employ he can 
himself most profitably make a living. 
* Report of Select Committee (House of Commons), July 7, 1876. 
F. C. B. 1891—26 
