OYSTER CULTURE COMMISSION. 
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. 
MOXBAY, G NOVMMBEE, 187G. 
present:— 
' llox. T. HOLT, I llox. L B. WILSON. 
The Hon. THOMAS HOLT, in the Cilvik. 
jMr. Frederick J, Gibbins called in and examined:— 
1. OlKfirmanJ] You are aware that this Commission has been appointed to inquire into the best mode ot 
ciiltivatin<; the oyster, and utilizing and inaintainiug the natural beds, in order to recommend to the 
Government tlie necessary legislation to secure those objects. I believe you have bad a great deal of 
exj)cricncc in oyster culture ? Yes. 
2. You liave also been dealing in oysters as well as engaged in cultivating them ? I have. 
You have liad experience not only in growing and fattening, but also in breeding them? Yes. 
I. At what age do you consider oysters to be marketable — that is to say, fit for food? About four years. 
5. AVliat size would an oyster be at that age? That would depend greatly upon the river it came from. 
(J. Yes, of course; but you arc aware, perhaps, that in England a gauge is employed in order to test their 
growth — all oysters that arc sold are tested by a ring having a diameter of 2.^ inches, and if they can be 
passed through that ring they are not considered marketable. At what size do you thiuk oysters should 
bo considered marketable in tins country’ ? A\Tdl, as I have just stated, it depends greatly upon the river 
they are taken from. In the Newcastle river, Avlierc the beds are a mile apart, there is a diflerencc of fully 
two inches in the size. In the bay they never grow to any size — they are always cuppy, but in the channel 
round ]^[osquito Island tliC}’' are larger, and not so cuppy. 
7. AVhat arc their I'espective sizes—those in the bay, and those in the channel? Lithe bay they are 
about 3 inches, and in the channel about o inches. 
8. As large as 5 inches ? Yes, when they are full-sizcd. 
0. Do you think it would be desirable to have a gauge in this country to test the size of the oysters, so as 
to prevent such a number of small ones being sold ? I think not. 
10. Arc you not aware that very small oysters arc sold in the shdps ? Yes, there are a great many ; the 
smallest oysters are those which are brought from off the PanvamattaEiver, Port Hacking, and some other 
])laccs; those are the smallest that arc brought to market. ^ 
II. JJo you think it desirable that these very small oysters should be sold for food? No.^ 
12. AVhat remedv do you suggest, as you appear to see objections to the use of the ring employed in 
Eindaud ? I harilly know what to propose. 
13 °If the small oysters are 3 inches in size, and the largest 5 inches, would it not bo safe to adopt a ring 
or flange of 2.V inches ? Yes, it would bo safe, but I don’t think it would be advisable. 
14°You think that no oysters that would pass through a 2\ gauge ought to be sold ? Yes but the 
oykers I am speaking of would be tlioso taken from their natural beds; those you mean are of course 
very small and thin. _ , 
1.5. J£on. J. B. Wihon.'] That would be an argument in favour of the ring, would it not ? 
Mr. V. J. 
Gibbins. 
G Nov., 1876. 
Yes. 
16. Oltairman.'] Bui you have already stated that you think it is not desirable to allow these very small 
oysters to bo used ? Y"es. _ t 
17. And those are chiefly rock oysters, wliich adhei’c to the rocks very high up, and arc therefore not so 
much exposed to the water ? Yes. 
18. These oysters, if removed to good ground, would grow and become larger and fit for food, would they 
not? No, sir. 
19. Have you ever made the experiment ? I have. 
20. Did you find they would not grow on rich ground ? Yes ; I have laid down plenty that came from 
ground of that sort, and I have found that they had come to their full growth before they were removed, 
and have not grown since they were moved. 
21. Of course if they had come to their full growth ilicy could not grow any more, but did they not fatten? 
Tea, but they did not become fit for market during that time. 
22. AVould tho}^ when full-grown go through a 2i-inch ring — you spoke of oysters being from 3 inches to 
5 inclics in size — Avould tlic.se oysters, fattened on your rick ground, go through a 2Uinch gauge? They 
would sir, that is to say the oysters tliat grow high up ou the rocks. AVhcu I first commenced bedding 
oysters, capeeinlly in one place on tlie Hawkesbury Eiver, it was these oysters ehieily that I got, and they 
arc still lying in the bed. The only advantage I derived from them was that they sfiawned, and 1 got the 
spawn. ___ 
Notb (oa remio/T*.— i 
yjj. Sydney, 1.) November, 1876. 
In giving evidence before the ConiiniHsion of liuiuiry into Oyster Culture, on Aloinbiy, (Jth November, I inrtdc ail 
error iu stating the size of the ring should hu 2^ imdies in diameter ; since then I have had a ring m.ade, and hiul that, with 
very few exceptions, the whole of tlio oysters taken from my beds will ])asa through the ring; and 1 may say my oysters 
arc no exception. 1 consider a ring 1^’ inch would he a fair size for inarkctahlc oysters. Ami 1 may also mention that 
in the size 1 gave 1 should have stated the (ysters were from 3 to inches in length. I have the rtiig mentioned alw>ve by 
me and am quite willing to show the same, with a sample of oysters, to prove my statement. 
^ 1 oura resiiectfillly, 
To Lindsay G. Thompson, Esq., lilEDK. J, G1BB1N8. 
Secretary to the Conimissiou ou Oyster Culture. 
23—A 
