OYSTER CriTUEE COMMISSION—MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. 
‘)r; 
72S. Arc you aware that there are a great many very small oysters brought into Sydney for sale ? Tes, Mr. IT. W. 
I have seen some very small ones. Bell. 
729. What would you call oysters of that kind in Whitstable? Nothing more than brood. 
730. Not so good as ware? Not so good as some oE the ware. 13^oT., 1876. 
731. These oysters, if laid do^vn on good ground, would become largo and saleable oysters, would they 
not ? Some of them might, but not all; there arc some kinds of oysters lierc that will not improve. 
732. Don’t you think that the sale of these very small oysters is prejudicial to the trade, even if they 
are eatable which is the opinion of some ? It is no doubt so ; still oysters though small may be good. 
733. Still, when a person calls for a plate of oysters he likes to have good oysters set before him, and not 
mere skin and water? That depends upon the condition of the oyster. 
734. The object of my question is to ascertain whether you do not consider it desirable that some limit 
should be fixed by legislation as to the size of the oyster offered for sale ? I think so, decidedly. 
735. Have you formed any opinion on the subject—Do you think oysters tliat would pass through a 2-inch 
or a 22-iiich ring should bo prohibited from sale? I should say from If-inch to 2 inches. 
736. You think that notldng below that size should bo sold as human food ? I think so. 
737. Have you formed any decided opinion as to the spawning of oysters, not only as to the period of 
spawning, biit whether they spawn more or less all the year round ? It depends greatly upon the seasons 
of the year in all bods ; there are more spawning in the south than in the north, and I believe they are 
spawning during the whole of the summer. 
738. Arc they Bpa^vning, do you think, during the wdnter months ? Tes, more or less. 
739. Then do you think it desirable that there should be a close season ? If you could fix the time. 
740. But if they are spawning all the year round, do you not think it desirable that there should be two 
or more months diunng which they should not be sold ? The difficulty would be to decide upon the proper 
time ; you would have to fix various periods. 
741. I wish to know whether you consider it desirable to fix a close season, or whether there are oysters 
which are wholesome food—those that are not spawning—all the year round ? Those that are not 
spawning are wholesome. 
742- Do you know what percentage of oysters spawn, on a bed or river ? I believe that all oysters spawn 
after they arrive at a cei'tain age. 
743. Have you ever attempted to catch young oysters by means of piles of stone or wood ? No. 
744. There is such an abundance of thorn that you have had no occasion to do so ? Tes. 
745. Are there many young oysters sticking on to the rocks and mangroves on the Tuross Eiver ? The 
only place is Rocky Point—all the other part of the river is black mud. 
746. Is there plonfy of spat there ? No, it is very scarce. 
747. Then if you -wished to cultivate oii a large scale you would have to import spat or brood? No, there 
would be sufficient for that, if wo could find the ground on which to cultivate them ; there are no fore¬ 
shores on the Tuross River to any extent. 
748. Then the oyster trade can never be carried on there to any extent ? No, and I believe it is a fair 
sample of the rivers, from what I can hear. 
749. You have obscnxd how the rocks in the harbour of Port Jackson arc ifiastered over with spat ? Yes, 
frequently. 
750. AYould it not be an advantage if they were knocked off the rocks carefully and planted on fattening 
ground ? I have no doubt of it. 
751. Oysters are most wholesome food, are they not? Yes. 
752. Do you see any objection to the Government licensing persons to knock these oysters off* the rocks, in 
order to sell them to those who would lay them down on good ground to grow ? You mean to lessees ? 
753. I am not speaking of leased rivers—some of the rivers are not leased, the Parramatta River for 
instance ; besides, the longest lease is not ten years. It is with respect to the future, not the present 
policy, that I wish for your opinion ? I think it would be very good policy. 
754. Don’t you think that a number of men, with their wives and families, w'ould find remunerative 
employment in this way, if they could sell the oysters to persons who have laying or fattening ground? 
Undoubtedly ; there are a ^eat many now doing it by stealth. 
755. Do not the oysters which are only reached by the high tides become stunted and soon perish, from 
their exposure to the hot sun ? They become stunted, but I have never known them to perish. 
756. Do you not often see only the under shell sticking to the rocks ? Yes, but I think those oysters are 
often destroyed by fresh water—by the change of water. 
757. Do vou think it would be desirable to introduce into any new Oyster Bill a provision to prevent the 
stealing of oysters, in the same way that provisions are made in the Slaughtering Act and the Brand Act, 
to prevent cattle-stealing ? Yes, I think it has long been needed. I have seen oysters exhibited in the 
windows in the shops in Sydney for sale which I knew were stolen. 
758. Mr. Farjiell.'] How long have you been engaged in the oyster trade, Mr. Bell ? Since 1853. 
759. I think you stated to the Chairman that you had not gone into the cultivation of oysters ? Not to 
any extent. 
760. Have you made any examination or inquiry with a view to ascertain whether you could obtain fore¬ 
shores or ground suitable for the cultivation and fattening of oysters in this Colony ? Only in respect to 
the Tuross River and Browlake. 
761. Then you are not aware whether we have in this country soil or clay such as they have in England 
suitable to the cultivation and fattening of oysters ? I can speak only with regard to those two places, 
and there the ground is only of a very limited extent. I have seen some good soil on the Parramatta 
River. 
762. AYliereabouts was it ? In different places. 
763. AVill you specify one spot ? At Kissing Point. 
764. That is rather a wide direction? AYell, I have been walking along the shore at low water, and going 
np towards Parramatta from the landing-place have noticed some good ground. 
765. Do you know the Plats ? I have only seen them from the deck of the steamer. 
766. You think there is some suitable clay on the foreshore above the landing ? Yes. 
767. Now, with regard to knocking oysters off the rocks, do not they fatten on the rocks when they are 
within a certain limit of low-water-mark ? Yes, within a certain limit of low-water-mark; they fatten 
faster there than they do higher up. 
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