60 
OYbXEE CULTL'IIK COiMillSSIOK—APPENDIX. 
sandy mud bed Oil wliitih tlic clutch rest^ ; but, us in one portion of the Ilaslins-s bod und in the bed in the 
bend of N. Creeh, there is a trace of ])ipc-clayc'y Btrat.iiin under the connuon bed of sandy mud and shell bearing 
the chitch. 
4. Beyond tlic water-mark of river, lakes, and creek, the land for some breadth is covered by spring-tides, and in 
many parts by neaps also; — consists of the common ricli blackish soil, and here and there black but not unctuous soil, a 
decayed salt-marsh vegetation, and (excepting in the latter) cocldc-sheli is pretty general. That within marks refcrrcil to is, I 
believe, still vested in Government, and all extremely well fitted for culture by trenches. 
5. Quality fair, but not so good as formerly. Age chieflv three, four, and five ; less of two years than there ought to be to 
maintain present rate of dredging, and scarcely any one year old ; plainly sliOMnng last year’s crop either failed, or from some cause 
or other—no doubt explicable when more attention is bestowed on this most important subject—the oyster tUd not spawn. 
The proximate extent of oysier-betls are marked by a red ink line ^ clean shell-clutch beds by a blue line ; good oyster ground, 
hard sandy mud and shell beds with a light coating of slimy mud, by red-ink dots ; good soft sandy mud and shell beds by blue- 
inkd-oiied line ; and wave-drift rand banks by a bl<ick ink line, 
6. There is a larger cpiantity of shell than in tlie other rivers fit for clutch. Almost every^vliere on the hanks and some 
distance back, I bear also, it spreads all over the level ground, and in parts, us at Laurietown, some (.Ustanco up the spur of the 
hill , also on the high ground at the heiid—again it occurs over all the north-western portion of Taylor’s Lake under from 2 or 
3 indies to 18 inches of soft mud slightly sandy mixed with broken shell j also shell on all the islands. Consequently culturists 
will liiive abundance of material to work with, and Laurietown, in the very centre of tho fisheiy, is well suited for a fishery 
township. 
7. Some of the oysters appear to be in the first stage of spauni development, but very few, and of that I am by no 
means sure; as until about two-tliirds advanced in development it cannot positively be determined without the aid of a pretty 
powerfid microscope; no spat appear anywhere in fishery. I questioned two of the three dredgers employed in fisliing, but 
they could give no useful information, liowever did not believe that oyster spawned all the 3 *ear round ; and third oysterman, 
named Handley, who lias charge of fisherv'. would give no information, hut a good deal of totally unprovoked abuse of self and 
all concerned, 'wliicli I am certain two of his employers would not countenance, nor scarcely, I think, would Woodward tho 
lessee of this fishery. Both Mr. James and Mr. Gibbon gave mo letters to each of their respective employes in charge of beds, 
directing that every assistance and information required should be afforded, but I had no letter from Woodward to his 
manager here. 
8. Neither of the two dredgers referred to could give mo any useful information, nor could any of the residents. 
9. This fishery is specially adapted for culture- in small areas, while as leased to one lessee it would probably be an 
impossibility in this country on account of both capital retpn.site for such a large undertaking, and also on account of scarcity of 
labour needful for even tolerable culture j but more than two Iiundred families could iind ample and liigbly profitable employ¬ 
ment, children included, starting with less capital than that necessary to enter on a frec-sele<?tion. 
10. So far as 1 have examined, I think, at least until culture has progressed sufilciently to yield a portion of the crop 
of spat yearly ncces.sary for a holding, natural be<ls being brought into such a low condition, ought to bo reserved under very 
strict regulations, for the exclusive use of tlie culturists of oyster-ground, merely as spat nurseries. 
11. I believe it. would be a iriser policy to give to lessees the privilege of collecting tlie spat off the natural beds free of 
coat, at least for a given term of years at first — that is to be collected by selves and families. The term of such concession to 
be calculated liberally, so as to allow fair time to have a crop or two of spat from those laid down in tho first year of occupation; 
but under proper restrictions rigorously enforced. 
12. On ridge of bed of softisli .«andy mud and shell on which formerly I am told chimps of oysters appeared in 
isolated patches. It is situated just above luaiirietown ; defined by blue-ink dots witli a red line in centre marking positions of 
laying. On this spot dry last of ebb (informed by a dredger) Tvns laid twenty months ago 900 bags of tidal oysters of the ordinary 
kind and age at present abounding, seemingly about, two years old. They lie in aiuirrowrowabout ten clumps deep, appearing to 
have been bundled out of the boat anyhow ; nevertheless they have thriven well for tidal oysters, probably all the better from 
not being at once, from a habitat exposed to sun and air twelve hours cveiy twenty-four, plunged into deep water as at Port 
Macquarie. In another year they will be fit for market, at any rate within two ycare. However, they have not grown so well 
as deep water o,>*stei*s woidd liave done in tliis favourable situation — I mean if tlie latter were laid on the covered portion of 
this excellent fattening ground. However, this example of rough transplanting affords conclusive refutation to the assertion 
that culture will not succeed in New South Wales, Ac., Ac., for here, on this bank of soft sandy mud and broken shell tho 
oyster tlirives and grows as well, or indeed better, than ever I expected to see a tidal oyster thrive wlien transplanted. Only 
clutch not having been laid on the bed previously, the bottom tier or la^’cr of clumps furnislies the clutcli und keeps the upper 
tiers out of the mud, consequently the lower tier is dead, but all tho others are as said healthy and plowing. Hence, therefore, 
wo aro furnished with two important conc-hcsions : — First, that culture will succeed equally a« well in New South Wales on new 
ground as it does in any other country, and in that ra^pect its habits and economy tUffer in no way from tho.«e of oysters in 
liiiropo and America. Secondly that a clutcli bod is an absolute necessity of proper culture, unless, as in this case, a layer of 
five oysters be sacrificed to furnish the cUitcli-bed. T may also add a third conclusion, not however so important as the others, 
as this is sufneiently proved by the original state of the beds, — namely, that oysters will thrive and grow well eight or ten 
clumps deep, but most probably not so well as if laid singly and in three or four tiers dc'cp. Tlvo above is the only improvement, 
if it can be so called, and tbat is in no respect an improvement to llie fishery. If a clutcli-hed had been laid even on this strip 
of ground, such would liavc permanently improved the bed to that small extent; but, as it is, these will no doubt all be taken 
up in the same rough-and-ready manner as laid, and the strip of bed left bare.* 
I have, &c., 
A. B. BLACK. 
MANNING RIYEB FISHERY. 
1. The enclosed statement includes most of 1867 up to date, put down as spoken. It shows that both subscribers are 
observing men (and, I may safely add, also decent), inclined to prove for tliemselves with means at hand the truth respecting 
culture—of this again. I earetully examined both patches referred to, also evidence obtained from Gyler, manager of 
fishery ; and several old residents of respectability not only coniirm the statement, but also afford the following facts, which is 
embodied in a short account of the fishery from its commencement to the present time, viz.:— Catti-bed, in main river, (as 
marked) was the first worked by “Sam the Tinker,” 25 years ago (1852), who'set the blacks to dive for them. Uo sent now 
and then a few bags to Sydney by sailing-vessels, wliich produced 10s. to 15s. a bag. Not, however, till 1861 <lid dredgers from 
Sydney disturb the bed ; but by end of this year 10 or 12 boats were working on it, averaging eight or ten bags dailv, in five 
or six hours. However, 12 or even 15 might have been obtained if chosen, but fear of glutting market prevented. The ordinary 
price was bs. to 8s., running up to 15s. in time of 8f»vcity, and in a glut notliing. I fear this element of nneertainty excraised 
a strong fascinating infinonce over the class of men engaged—“ light come light go.” This is the o\\[y sheM clutch bed in 
fishery. It lies on a flat at entrance to Catti Creek, 5 to G feet deep, falling siiddeuly on to a narrow slielf 20 feet wide and 
22 feet deep, then equally abruptly on to (he bed of river in this bend 4-0 lo 45 feet deep, ami a strong ebb, but less etrong 
flood, running over all the bed— clutch iit first, on shallow portion, laid very thick, now scarcely a voatigo i-emaius. The deeper 
_ portion, 
* In relation to the *'Hdal 'oyster.”—Since sUrtlod by tho ]>o.sitivo statement. ImvscT on 25 years experience ot Goortre Fniiser manager 
of Clarence Beds, “Tbat tidal oysters spawned several times a year/' 1 have closely observed, m faraj* opportunity would allow its anPCArancD 
and habits, in order to discover anytbinir to justify that conclusion ; as yet howerar, without further success than that of flndintrin some favoured snort 
in several rivers or creeks, spat seeniin^dy of various acres or rather degrees of trrowth - but always apparently a well-detlneil poriixl between each 
growth. Obviously, however, unless positive of the time of spawning or that of spawn sotting, judging bv mere growth alone is a ven* unsatisfactory 
mode of determining the ago of a creature so extremely susceptible to many external intluence.s espoeiallv while living in lui abnonnal condition 
as in that state it is confined hetweeii the verge of low-water and high-water-marks. Hence, acconlingto th*e run of tide in these rivers it is deprived 
of food 12 to 10 hours ©leh ilay and a fiur supply tho remainder ; also an unusual degree of cither eold or sun will impede growtli • consenuentlv in 
favourable circnnistaiices Its growUi at that early Btato of life would he rapid, wliilc uiifavciurabtc elrvrumstances might arro-st iu growth oven oiic or 
two mouths. When pondering the matter in eonne.xion with this heap of tidal cy.sters transferred to a losadiyandmorc fertile thereby to a more 
copious supply of food and better shelter ; aUo on tho mysterious law of lunar infiuence on fishes, whether dead or alive in v/ater or out of water, 
(a fact well known and operated on by fishermen), also on the movements of migrating fishes as the ivcriod of spa\v^ling approaches likewise on 
mnssolH, &c., on tidal beds, extending even to the gestation and other vital processes of mammals, Ac.,—it seems probable that under such abnormal 
conditions the general spawning time of tidal oysters may be increased once or more during each year under the powerful influence of the clear moon 
in this generally dry coimtry. liowever as the propagation and preservation of seed is one of the roost important elements in this oyster industn', no 
means ought to be neglected to determine the spawning question, I shall certainly as 1 proceed neglect nothing tlmt seems to tend to such solutioa.— 
A. 15. Black. 
