1919.] Thomson.—Libraries of Science and Technology. 365 
held by the Library for exchange purposes. Since the proposed Depart¬ 
ment of Scientific and Industrial Research will probably be the largest user 
of the Library, it is desirable that provision should be made in the building 
for the offices of this department. 
The stack-room should be designed to hold not less than 200,000 books 
in the first place, and the possibility of future extension should be con¬ 
sidered in planning the building. 
As regards site, whatever opinions may be held as to the better site for 
the Dominion Museum and Dominion Art Gallery, there can be but one 
opinion concerning the Library. It should be on the present Museum site, 
and be thus convenient to the General Assembly and Turnbull Libraries, 
to the Dominion Laboratory, the Geological Survey, and Government 
Departments generally. Its removal to the Mount Cook site would gravely 
prejudice the co-operation of the various Departments now possessing 
sectional libraries. 
NOTES ON THE ROCK-OYSTER FISHERY OF 
AUCKLAND. 
By Charles Hedley, Australian Museum, Sydney. 
A peculiar policy has been adopted by those in control of the oyster- 
fishery in north New Zealand. Here, as elsewhere, oysters are regarded as 
Crown property. Abroad, the oyster beds and banks are usually leased to 
oyster-farmers for cultivation and collection. In Auckland, on the con¬ 
trary, the State turns farmer, cultivates, collects, and retains possession of 
the oyster up to the point of sale to the retailers. The oyster-pirate—even 
he who eats an odd oyster on the beach—is severely punished. 
As a conchologist I was interested in oyster affairs, and sought to learn 
why unusual methods had been adopted, and how the interests of the public 
as consumer and the public as owner were suited by these arrangements. 
To satisfy this curiosity the Fishery Department kindly introduced me to 
their Inspector, Mr. Bennett. An extended trip through the Hauraki Gulf 
was proposed, but did not eventuate, and my examination of the problem 
was limited to an afternoon’s cruise with the Inspector. Finding my 
opportunity of investigation so restricted, I relinquished the idea of 
writing a report on the subject. But my friend Dr. Allan Thomson 
now requests me to send to him, for publication in this Journal, my 
impressions, though so superficial. In deference to his wish, these brief 
notes are now penned. 
In the Auckland rock-oyster I found an old acquaintance, Ostrea cucul- 
lata Born,* which has not, I think, been previously identified under this 
name. Probably this is the species described and figured in Suter’s Manual 
of Neiv Zealand Mollusca as Ostrea corrugata (p. 890) and O. glomerata 
(p. 891). The annual crop of O. cucullata in New Zealand amounts to 10,000 
bags, worth £7,000.]* This is a tropical form,- ranging north to Japan and 
west to India. Bashford Dean (“ Japanese Oyster-culture, 5 ' Bull. U.S. Fish 
* In the original citation—Born, Index Mus. Caes. Vind., p. 100, 1778—this name 
is spelled Ostrea cuccullata. 
fThe output for 1918 was 10,422 bags, worth 14s. per bag. 
