OTSTKB CULTURE COilMISSION—iII>a'TES OF EVIDENCE. 
215. It would give remunerative employment to a large number of persona? Yes, but I think it would 
only bo fair if it were compulsory upon these persons who had licenses to collect the spat, to sell it to the 
lessees of the rivers. r • < 
21(i. I am not speaking of lessees—I am only suggesting a policy for the future ; suppose, tor insiance, 
that these leases had expired? Oh, yes ; but while the rivers are leased I do not thiuk it would bo tair 
that any pei*sous should be licensed to take spat out ot them unless they sold it to the lessees. 
217. Of course not — that would be an interference with private property; lam speaking with reference 
to the future. Besides all the rivers arc not leased. 
218. Hon. J. B. Wilson.'] With regard to these rivers, do you think it would be desirable to lease them 
without leasing the foreshore also, so that not only these persons could collect the spat, but the public 
could collect it also? It would be a good thing, but I thiuk there should bo places set aside tor llio pur- 
jiose, that tliese people should be licemsed, and that none of the spat should be sold under any conditions 
except for the purpose of planting. ^ • i* i 
219. Now we will lake the lEawkesbury Eiver for instance,—there is a much larger quantity ot spat there 
than one person can make use of? Yes. 
220. TJieu where would he the hai-m of licensing persons to collect that spat and sell it ? I do not see 
why it should not be done if other persons will cultivate it—if persons who have spat do not make use ot 
it, I do not sec why they should not allow others to do so. 
221. Chairman.] Is it the case that oyster.s which oul}'' get the benefit of tlio high tides do not thrive but 
die ? They do not die, but they are always sickly from being exposed to the sun ; if they are knocked oil 
aud thrown into the water they thrive and grow. I believe that any live oyster thrown down on the ground 
would grow. 
222. If all the oysters on the rocks were knocked oT and thrown into the water, would that interfere with 
the breeding, or would that go ou just the same ? They would breed just the same. 
223. Then does not this supply, ou the rocks along the river banks, appear to you an admirable provision of 
nature to meet au increased demand? I think that, as we are situated, the whole business is going 
to ruin, because we are so prolifically supplied that people will not turn their attention to the means 
provided for saving the oysters. 
224. We get what in England is only obtained by a considerable outlay of time and expense, without the 
least labour or outlay? Yes, and if we did not get it so easily we should have to adopt artificial means 
such as arc used in other countries. 
225. Don’t you tliink this profusion of young oysters is due almost exclusively to the genial warmth of the 
climate ? I thiuk so. 
22G. What I mean to say is, that if we had frost and snow here, as they have in Englaiid, the greater por¬ 
tion of them would be destroyed. In England, sometimes for ten or fifteen years, they have hardly been 
able to save any, while in Erance, where the climate is warmer, they can save large quantities ? Yes, it is 
the rule to save them here, and tlie exception to lose thorn in bad seasons. 
227. You thiuk then that this climate, which produces vines aud oranges, is peculiarly suited to the growth 
of oysters ? I think so, as far as my expcrieuco goes. I know what has been done in my leases out of 
almost nothing, in the course of two and a half years. These oysters which I have exhibited to-day were 
grown from a more notliing; they would not have been worth anything if tliey had remained Avhere they 
were. I do not tliink there is any obstacle at all to the growth of oysters liere if proper ground is secured. 
Of course it is a question whether they can bo made to pay. 
228. What do you consider the most suitable ground for fattening ? Do you mean oii the foreshore or 
in deep water ? 
229. 1 mean both ? I thiuk a clear shelly bottom, with about a 3-miIe tide is about the best. The ground 
should be turned over with a dredge every three or four months, to prevent the oysters from getting into 
one mass. 1 believe tliat when they are spread out they get much largei’. In a new bed wo sometiinos 
find it all like one crust, and then the oysters are very poor; they are so close that they live upon one 
another, and don’t get the same chance to feed as when they are separated. 
230. Don’t you thiuk they fatten much lictter when they are laid down separately? They would in still 
water ; but I thiuk where there is a running tide it is suificient to keep tliem apart. 
231. AVith regard to the soil, is not mud essentially necessary for hxtteuing them? Mud is a very good 
thing for fattening, but when tlio mud sets over them they get smothered ; they require much more care 
than they do ou a iinner bottom. 
232. 8and is very injurious to oysters, is it not ? Yes ; sand will choke them. 
233. I will ask you another question having reference to the policy to he adopted in the future. Do you 
thiuk it would be wise ou the part of the Government to lease small areas for fattening grounds, or to 
continue the present system of leasing largo blocks ? I think the areas should be large, but that there 
should be conditions imposed with regard to cultivation. Eor instance, for every 100 bushels of oysters 
taken- out ot a river I think the lessee should be compelled to show that he had cultivated a certain 
proportion, enougli to keep the river in working order. If you took out a bushel of oysters aud put back 
a bushel of spat, you would get ten times the quantity, because you would have three crops. 
234. If the Government were to issue licenses in the way we have sj)oken of to men of good character to 
knock the oysters oil the rocks, and to sell them to growers, don’t you think it would give em])loyincnt to 
a large number of persons; that it would also be the means of stocking fattening grounds, besides 
producing a large quantity of wholesome food? I think so, if the conditions of the licenses were that 
these per.sons should sell the oysters to no one but the lessees. 
235. Is it not quite as possible to make regulations to prevent oyster-stealing as it is to prevent sheep- or 
cattle-stealing, and other offences of that class ? Yes, T suppose so. 1 think it is quite as much a crime to 
steal oysters from a person’s ground as it is to steal sheep oft' a run. 
230. Then do you not think it would be a wise policy on the ])art of the Government to ado|)f pi'ocautions 
to prevent such waste as exists at present ? Yes; if the ]:enaltics Avore suliiciont to prevent the sale of the 
oysters^ to any one except the lessees or growers, liocause sometimes there is a scarcity of oysters, aud these 
men might get oysters instead of spat, aud bring tliom into town and sell them for consumi)tioii. 
237. But that would be prevented by an inspector, in the same way as tiic sale of unwholesome fish is 
prevented. Is it not possible to have ins])eetor3 to prevent the sale of oysters of imj)ropcr size ? I don’t 
think that could be clone, unless all the oysters were taken to one place for inspection before they Avere 
olfered for sale, aud that would bo ditlicult. 
238 . 
