52 
OYSTEE CTOTITEE COinnSSIOir—HIOTTES OP ETTDEKCB. 
Mr ^. K^h t. 232 ( 5 ^ And you think two or three acres of such ground would afford profitable occupation to a man and 
IDecl^ kis family? Yes, I do. 
' ' 1817.. Haro you had any experience in making these artificial beds ? J^'o, I have not. 
1818. AV^hen you were sending oysters from Newcastle to Sydney, were you careful to pick out the small 
oysters before sending them off ? Yes. 
1819. You only sent the large ones to Sydi^^ ? No. 
1820. What did you do with the others ? Threw them back into the river. 
1821. You were always careful to throw the small ones back into the river? Yes. 
1822. AVere not persons in the habit of collecting them for the lime-bumers ? Yes, a great many were 
destroyed in that way. 
1823. How do you account for the fact that the oyster beds on the Hunter River were so much more 
prolific when you first knew them, seeing that there were probably as many floods in those days as there 
nave been in subsequent years ? Because they used to collect them in large quantities and burn them for 
lime. 
1824. But that is what I call over-dredging. I do not allude to their being taken only for food, but for 
all^ purposes. Then you agree wdth me that over-dredging, that is taking them from the beds iu large quan¬ 
tities, must have had a great effect in destroying them ? I think it was the principal cause. 
1825. You have not been connected with the Hunter at all since it was proclaimed a close river by the 
Government ? No. 
182G. Are you now living in the neighbourhood of any bays or inlets to the sea ? No, I am not. 
