70 
OYSXEB CrLITTBE COMMXSSTOIT—APPENDIX. 
BOTANY BAY, COOK’S RIVER, AND GEORGE’S RIVER. 
To the Honorable the Commissioners for Orstor Culture. 
Gentlemen, George’s River, February, 1877. 
In obedience to instructions, I have the honor to report, for the information of the Commissioners the result of my 
examination into the oyster-bearing capabilities of Botany Bay, George’s and Cook’s Rivers. 
!•—They were all largely oystcr-boariiig. 
2.—By oyer-dredging, exposure to easterly gales, and sand dnfta. 
3* Replies to these questions may be gathered more conveniently from my report in chief. 
A Marshes exist on the south side of Botany Bay and Cook’s River, and in one or two parts of George’s River ; they 
are chiefly soft mud and sand. I am not aware to whom they belong. 
3* Of all qualities, sizes, and ages, and, as will be gathered from my report, principally in George’s River. 
6. —Dead shell and rock on south side of Botany Bay, and all rock in George’s River. 
7. —The time of spatting is consequent upon the seasons and depth of water. 
9.—Moderately sized areas. 
10. —Yes. 
11. —Yes. 
^3.—The only considerable improvement is in George’s River, opposite Mr. Emerson’s residence, and referred to in the 
appended report. 
Botany Bay, 
, . - examination of the water, I tailed to dijcovor any liito oyster, except a small bed in Marbray and Keeney Bays, 
chiefly a deposit of sjKiwn on the mangroves. However, I discovered a large extent of dead mud-oyster-sholl^. extending from 
me old wharf at Sans Souci to Sandringham for and upwards of a quarter of a mile in length, with a mean width of 170 yards. 
Overlaying it is a crust of small shells and sand, and a species of coarse coral which was alive with marine insects. T was not able 
to ascertain the depth of the deposit, but after cutting through the crust the dredge showed nothing but clean dead shells. This 
deposit was totally devoid of live oysters or spawn. Tlie whole bod of the bay, willi the above exception, scorns to bo composed 
of dead shell smothered with drift sand. And however important the bay may liavc been as regards its oyster-bearing capa- 
Inlitics in former tim^, it s^ms to me that, owing to its exposure to easterly ^los, and the eddies produced by the tides, causing 
the sand-drift to distribute in all directions, it cannot now be relicil on as a field for ovster culture. 
^ Cook's Biver 
totally devoid of oysters. The mollusc was once plentiful in it, but it has not been worked for nine or ten years. 
The banks are composed of soft clay and overlaid with drift-sand, and, like Botany Bay itself, is bv no means a desirable field 
for culture, i.e, to say, it would takealarge outlay of capital to make and form beds in it. which onothcr rivers could be formed 
at comparatively little or no cost. 
At the risk of exceeding my instructions in another respect, I will venture to remark on the srstem of “ stalling” in 
connection with net-fishinp, wliicli is practised in these and other wators. The system is to fix stakes at the north of shallow bays 
The fishermen combino.ttnd join their nets, so as to extend tlic whole width of these bays. This is done at high-tide. At low-tide 
the bays aro left diy, and fish of all descriptions and size aro thus caught. The marketable Twh aro collected, and the 
remamdor in jiroportion of at least two-thirds in number are left to die in the mud. The practice is so general that the destruc¬ 
tion of fish 18 immense—almost beyond calciUation. Without fear of contmdiction, I can assert that not only in Botanv Bay 
^ every water within roach of tlic Sydney Fish Market, there is not a bay in any suitable inlet in 
which this “ stalling process is not carried on. 
Georges River. 
I inspected this river from the Salt-pan Creek to its mouth. It is at present underlease to Mr. A. Emerson. The 
mode of catolung oysters on this nver is bv diving and the tongs. Owing to the rocky nature of the bottom the dredge is 
seldom used.^ Mr, Emerson has introduced a very complete diving apparatus, by which, with the aid of a covered punt, ho can 
take oysters in most weathers. He has from twenty to thirty persons in liis employ on the river. Some of them are South Sea 
Islanders, who dive in the shallow parts where the depth does not exceed say 10 feet. 
Ihosc also collect lino marketable oysters from the rocks; indeed, the oysters in the river as a rule grow in the crevices 
and on the rocks even in the deep water, and can be obtained by thejiclp of the diving apparatiH. The banks and the bod of 
the river between the rocks is composed of a very soft deacriptlon of mud, quite unsuitable for carrying oysters. The oysters 
arc a fine sample, one of the finest brought to market. They are very prolific, exhibiting on unusual growth in a given 
period. 
I note ono exception to the generally soft nature of the mud of the river; it Is in Snake Bav, where there is a bank on 
which oysters would readily grow and fatten. 
1 should not omit to give special mention to an eSbrt made by Mr. Emerson to improve the already naturally great 
oyster-bearing capabilities of tins water. 
In tlie bay just fronting his residence ho has stocked an old natund bcfl with brood ho obtained from Port ITacking 
about two years and a-half .since. The bed is about a i of a mile in length by 150 yards in breadth, and on it were deposited 
several thousand bags of brood. This brood has now developed in the comparative!v short space of two vears and a-half into a 
fine, largo, well-llaToured oyster. I can speak with confidence in respect to the fiwt, inasmuch as I had the opportunity of 
seeing the brood soon after it was laid down, aud a more missliupon unpromising article it was almost impossible to conc-eivo. 
The Wooronora is a tributary of George s River ; is not siutablc for oyster culture, ite beds being composed of sandy 
1 have, dc., 
W'M. J. LAXGHAM, 
Inspector of Oyster Beds. 
CROOKHAVEN AND SHOALHAVEN. 
The Commissioners of Oyster Culture. . 
Gentlemen, 
I have the honor to report upon oyster-beds, Crookhaven ainl Slioalhavcn. 
Replies to questions. 
1. —As prolific as any in the Colony. 
2 . —Yes, aud but for their romarkably rccupenilive powers would now be cutircly destroved 
3. — 
(a) Prhicipdly of niaiigrovc swamps. ^ 
(A) The few rocks whicli exist are coverod with brood and oysters. 
(e) JIml and sliell, 
<1.—Yes, wholly coverod at liigh fide—mud and mangrove. 
5-—I liave set this out in my geiieml roport. 
6 . —Only the rctl stone mentioned in my rojiort. , 
7. —Spatting depends on the seasons. 
9-—Moderately sized areas. 
—I think the Government should retain all natural beds in its possession. 
11. —Yes. 
12 . —None. 
13. I have uotliing to add, except to record a generally expressed opinion that the present monopoly of oyster-bearing 
waters should be broken, and that the industry should be made available for the general public. 
The 
