OYSTEK CULTURE COilMISSlON—MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. 
9 
23S. Would not that prevent to a great extent the sale of small oysters? Yes. It would be to a certain 
extent an annoyance to lessees; for instance, where two or three hundred bags came in for the Melbourne 
market, if they had to be taken anywhere to be inspected it would be very inconvenient. It would also ^ ^ 
give one inspector an immense deal of work. 
239. 1 am merely speaking of the principle and not of the details ? 1 think tlie inspector should have 
power to inspect oysters anywhere, and to condemn them and prevent their sale if he considered them 
unfit, just as the Inspector of Nuisances has power to seize unwholesome fish. That would keep a good 
many 05 'sters out which ought not to come into the market at all* 
240. Hon. J, B. Wilmn.'] 1 suppose you are aware that there has been a very great destruction of the 
natural oyster beds of the Colony from over-dredging ? 1 am well aware of it. 
241. Do you think as a rule that these rivers which have been leased have been improved since they came 
into the hands of the lessees ? I do not think so. I think they have been working them without any 
regard to tlie future ; in fact, I have proved that one-third of the beds have been destroyed by competi¬ 
tion—by one man working against another. 
242. What is the term for which you think the Government should lease a river for cultivation ? I don’t 
think any tenu less than tAventy years Avould he of the least use. 
243. Do you think that is enough? If it Avere a longer term it Avould he a great encouragement, but it 
sliould not be less than tAventy years. 
244. Do you think it Avould be possible to carry out sucli an inspection of the oyster beds as to ensure 
their being hiuuled over, at the expiration of the leases, in proper Avorking condition? I think it Avould 
be, but it Avoiild take some time to find out the condition the beds are in at first. If that Averc properly 
done, it Avould be easy enough to ascertain Avhether they Averc left in the same state. 
245. Do you think it would he desirable to insert in the lease a proA'iso that the beds should ho returned 
in the same state as they had been in during the last five years of the lease ? Yes, with the exception, of 
course, of a(X‘ideiits from fiood or other causes. 
240. Ilavc you any information as to the price of oysters in Melbourne and the state of the oyster 
market at the present time? I have a letter from my agent in Melbourne, dated 30tb October, 1876, in 
which he states tliat some oysters sent from Sydney to the Melbourne market, probably about 160 bags, 
Avere quite unsuitable. I also put in a letter f'rom the same correspondent, dated 5 October, 1876. 
Mr. T/. Brooks to Mr. John Emerson, Sydney. 
jMclbounie, 5 October, 1S7(). 
Dear Sir, 
I wish you Avill oblige me to bring those facts before the Commission of Inquiiy to protect and cultivate tlie 
oyster beds of your Colony. 1 Avant to show the reekless way the trade is being carried on, and the rubbish that comes 
from Sydney to tlie M clbournc market, in fact oysters that never ought to bo allowed to leave the beds. It is a regular 
practice send oysters in bags to Melbourne which are topped up ; I mean by tliat that there arc good oysters on the top 
and rubbish underneath, and the young brood that is in some of those bags ought neA-er to be allowed to leaAX their beds ; 
the result will be that at the expiration of some of those leases there will be no oysters left lit for use. 
The result is, that with sending such rubbish, and more than is wanted for the regular sujiply, they arc obliged to 
sell them by public auction at the fish mai’kets, Melbourne. In one instance I saw eighteen (18) bags of Newcastle and 
Broken Bay sold for 20s. the lot. 
I send you the price of wliich oysters have been sold by public auction during this last month. 
AVhatever information the Commission wish to get I shall be most happy to give them, either personally or by letter. 
1 am, &c., 
L. BROOKS. 
Price of oysters sold by auction diu'iiig the last month ; 
Newcastle oysters 
Broken Bay „ 
Clarence ,, 
Camden „ 
Cape Hawke ,, 
Manning 
s. d. 
4 
3 
3 
4 
() 
11 
to 
to 
to 
to 
to 
0 
8 
9 
10 
9 
d. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Melboimic ? No, or I should 
247. Have you any difilculty 111 getting a good price for good oysters in 
]iot bo able to get on at all. ,, . t.*- n p n /.i ^ i x i 
248 While these inferior oysters have been sold in Melbourne for 3s. 6d. a bag, good oysters have 
commanded a good price ? Yes, from 27s. to 30s. per bag. Last year—the whole of last year I 
the Brisbane Oyster Company 18s. a bag for all their oysters, and that Avith freight and costs mot 
up to 21s. Avhen they were landed in Sydney, and if they had not been good oysters 
money by them. 
still 
^ paid 
and costs mounted 
I should have lost 
FRIDAY, 10 NOVEMBER, 1876. 
present 
J. S. FAENELL, Esq., 1 Hon. J. B. WILSON. 
The Hon. THOMAS HOLT, M.L.C., in the Chair. 
Mr. Gcor<'e Clarke called iu aud examiued, Mi'._ Henry Woodward, another witness, present by 
permission:— 
249. You arc an oyster merchant in Syilnev, I bclicwe ? Yes. ^ . .1 i . i p 
‘^50 Wo have been appointed by the Government a Commission to inquire into, the best mode of artifi- 
cialiy cultivating tlic oysters iu this Colony, aud of maintaining and improving the natural beds. I under¬ 
stand that you do a large business as an oyster uie.reliant? Yes. 
251. You have also Bome oyster beds, have you not Yes. .no 
252 HaA'C you ever done anything in the Avay of cultn'ating the oysters artilicially : JSever. 
253 Y’oii simply use the natural beds Avhich vou have leased from the Government ? Tliat is all. 
254.’ You have 110 layings, us they arc termed in England—beds prepared for laying down oysters ? No. 
23—B 255. 
Mr. G. 
Clarke. 
10 Not., 1876. 
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