OrSTEU CULIUBE COMMISSION—APPENDIX. 
71 
The oysters commence at the south-east side of the Crookhaven River; they are found on the rocks in large quantities, 
and they extend up the river in the mangroves for a distance of four miles; besides those, are three very prolific natural beds, 
averaging (say) one hundred and seventy yards in length bv thirty yards in breadth. The bed oyster is large and well flavoured, 
and at maturity is as fine a sample as can be shomi in the tSvdnev market. These beds arc composed of mud and shell, and 
then* average yield I estimate under proper care and working woufd bo about three thousand bushels per annum. 
Curly’s Ray, an inlet from Crookhaven, and almost dry at low-water, is skirted M'lth oyster-bearing mangroves ; these 
oysters require some cultivation to uuituro them, but the lessee sends them to market in an immature state; they have home 
in great quantities, hut the constant stripping for market has redutsMl them very considerably. ^Iherc is a large area immediately 
adjoining their habitat on which they would readily grow and lattcii with no labour or expense beyond the mere laying down; 
the cost of such laj'ing would ho (say) four-pence per bushel. The brood is more than sufliciently abundant to stock the 
wliolc of the present unused oyster-bearing ground in the river. Besides the mangroves, there are in Curly’s Bay five small 
mangntvo islands, which, with one exception, are covered at high tide—they abound with brood ; some of the smallest of it the 
lessee lays down in the channel in a deptli of (say) three feet at low-water; the larger, though not n^rketable, he sends to Sydney 
for sale. There are deposits of a red stone admiiiibly adapted for uso in the formation of artificial beds, and by its use a large 
extent of at present soft mud flats could be turned to a useful account, 
Comcrong Island sejiamtca the Crookhaven from the ShoaUiavcu River. A portion of this island is a m.*xugrovc swamp, 
and is prolific in brood, as also are three adjacent islands, which are wholly covered at high tide. The entrance from the 
Crookhaven to the Shualliaven is by a dyke formed hv the late Mr. Berry. The oysters accumulate on the stones here, and 
grow very fast; they would bo a first-rate marketable sample at two yejirs and six months, but as is usual here as in other 
places, they arc not allowed to remain long enough. Tlie scour of water in the dyke seems to exert a very beneficial and 
marked iutlucneo in the growth of the oyster. 
On the Shoalhaveu thcro is a belt of mangroves near the mouth at Coolangatta, opposite the residence of Mr. David 
Berry ; they are not so extensive as those in Crookhaven, but the oysters on them grow with equal luxuriance. The bed of the 
Shualliaven is composed chiefly of sand and debris from flood deposit. 
In Broughton Creek, a'tributary of the ShoaUmven, there arc four small natural beds, which, under proper care and 
culture would yield annually (say) twelve hundred bushels, but at the present time they are almost bare. I form my estimate 
by previous knowledge of these beds. 
The lessee is nou-rcsidont, and very Utile if any care is bestowed on the property; he seems to bo content to reap the 
natural products, not even giving time for those products to arrive at maturily. 
In concluding this report, I take occasion to remark generally upon the very little interest lessees take as to improving 
their holdings ; they for the most part seem satisfied with Nature’s efforts, and never dream of bestowing attention on their 
properties ; the result must be, to exhaust the oystor-beariug capabilities of the waters of the Colony, and to destroy an industry 
which, if carefuUy protected, might afford a meaus of livelihood to thousands. 
I have, &c., 
\V. J. LANOnAlVt, 
Inspector of Oyster Beds. 
JERVIS BAT AND TRIBUTARIES. 
To the Honorable the Commissioners for Oyster Culture. 
March, 1877. 
Gentlemen, 
I have the honor to report on the oyster-bearing capahiUtics of Currambene, Cabbage-tree, and Moonie Creeks, 
tributaries of Jervis Bay, and as far as practicable of the bay itself, and in obedience to instructions have to report as foUows 
for the information of the Commission. 
Replies to questions. 
1. —I have not made a previous inspection. 
2 . —No, they have not been much worked. 
3 — 
(a) A mixture of the three^ with the addition of slate-rock—sand predominating. 
(i) To a coneiderable extent covered. 
(c) One bed in the upper part of Currambene Creek of a rich clay. 
4. Yes, to a large extent sand mixed sUghtly with mud—could not ascertain—shown on tracing. 
5. Prom brood to full-grown oysters. This is stated in the appended report. 
6 . Clay and slate rock. 
7. The time of spatting is affected by the seasons and depth of water. 
9. Moderately'SUed areas. 
10. Yes. 
11. Yes. , 
12 . These waters are not under lease. 
13. Sco uppeuded report. 
Currambene Creek. 
Orsters exist on the banks and bed of the creek, those on the banks being found on the mangroves and cobblers’ 
pegs. Thev commence on the north side of the creek about five hundred yards from its mouth. The oyster bed is 
composed of mud mixed with sand, and extends in unbroken length for a distance of about half a mile up the creek, having a 
mean breadth of twenty-five yards. Along the banks the oysters are found in patches for a distance .of a mile and a half. 
On the south side oysters commence at about three hundred yards from the mouth. The formation is rock, large 
manoTove swamps extending back from the crock for say a quivrter of a mile. The oysters on this side are in patches and 
scattered, and they extend up the creek to the same distance as those on the north side. Some at low-water-mark are marketable. 
I estimate that between three and four thousand bags of young oysters could be collected out of the creek every second year, 
and if removed to a suitablo place would be marketable in (say) one to two years. \ 
There arc three beds of dredge or drift oysters, situated about one and a half mile up the creek from the mouth ; the 
dimensions of the bedr^ are al>out one hundred yards by twenty yards ; they have been worked by fishermen and the blacks ; 
they are in a depth of from t wo to four feet of water at low tide. The formation of the bed is soft rotten rock (I shall have 
the honor to submit a sample). The kUoUs arc of a dark green colour, covered with moss. ^ 
I discovered in this creek a bed of drift oysters, which it appears is not known to cither fishermen or blacks. I assume 
it to be of comparatively recent formation. The oyster, which is a very line sample, is covered with moss, the shell being quite 
dark in colour. The lies in ten feet of water at low tide. The banks are of stiff yellow clay. 
The natural beds in the creek are evidently very prolific* having a splendid bottom, could be easily worked and improved. 
Tho bed of the creek at the entrance for a dislauco of a mile is soft drift sand. 
Cahhage-iree Creek. 
Situated on the north-east side of the bay, is about two miles in length; it contains no oysters. The banks and beds are 
composed of a very fine drift sand, with mangrove swamps composed of soft mud and sand. At low tide at a distance of a 
quarter of a mile from the mouth the water is not more than one f(wt at its deepest part. Eelp and sea-weed wash into the 
creek from the bay during southerly winds in great quantities ; it will therefore bo apparent to the Commission that the creek 
is not hv anv means suitable for oyster culture. .... 
In the lake at tlie mouth of the creek I found, in about ten feet of water, a bed of mud oysters, and another similar 
bed at the llolc-in-thc-waU near the Light-house. Owing to the heavy roll of the sea 1 was unable to test the extent of these 
beds. They are not disturbed by tlie oyster-catchers, the oysters being of a description that will not keep out of the water for 
more than twelve hours; I shall not, therefore, unless specially directed, spend time in making further inspection during more 
favourable wcatlier. 
'Monn\e 
