OYSTERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1408, 14 May 1867, Page 3

OYSTERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

We publish the following extract from a paper recently read by Mr E. S. Hill to the Acclimatization Society of New South Wales : — In the London market oysters are divided into two great classes—Natives and Commons. Native oysters are those bred in the waters of the Thames estuary aud the creeks of its affluents, both on the Kent and Essex side. The superiority of the native oysters consists in the relatively large size of the fish compared with that of the shell, its remarkable succulence, delicate flavor, and compact shape, as well as the hardness and brilliancy of its shell. The price at which natives sell is accordingly very high in comparison with that of other kinds. By the term " Commons " are known all other oysters, which are, however, distinguished from each other by the name of the locality from which they are taken, such aR Channel oysters, Jersey oysters, West Country oysters, &c. Oyster beds are of two kinds as regards the quality of their produce, namely, beds of common and beds of native oysters. Of two kinds as respects their proprietorship, namely, public beds and private beds. Of two kinds as to their origin and system of management, namely, natural and artificial. It is at present impossible to say to what cause or combination of causes is to be ascribed the great superiority of natives over all other oysters. The most remarkable circumstance connected with the native beds is that they are all situated on the London clay, or geological formations of similar character. I now proceed to the oysters of New South Wales, and which are not known by any systematic classification, but only named according to the situation in which they are discovered, such as mud, cluster, rock, bed, and drift oysters, or from the localities which they had been dredged, as Port Stephens, Hunter, George's Eiver, Clyde, &c. Mud oysters are found in patches consisting of bunches, or single, at various depths of from two to eight fathoms, attached to the sides of tidal embankments, on the base of rocks, and on the margin of tne fringe weeds. These are considered coarse and rank in flavor ; more, I apprehend, from the great size to which they attain, and the season in which they are taken, than from any p" articular strong flavor; these oysters will not keep like others for any length of time out of their element. Cluster oysters, although similar in appearance to, and in structure of, the mud oyster, are found on the margin of the fringe weeds in deep bays, at depths of from two to three fathoms, in large and regular beds, adhering to each other in bunches of ten to twenty. These oysters, in the proper season, are excellent, and of a delicate flavor, and must not bo confounded with oysters dredged up in the ordinnary way, as cluster oysters, like those of Port Stephens and other places where they are found attached. Eock oysters are those found pertinaciously adhering to the rocks of our harbors and bays along the coast, which rocks have formed a natural ' clutch ' for the 4 floatsome' or spawn to attach itself. The flavor of this oyster, at the proper season and age, is admitted to be of a superior quality. Bed oysters are those usually dredged up from the Dottoin oi rivers and esrua.r-.es, ana w-liicrli in many places &x-e fomxd ixx beds of large- dimensioxis, -wliils'fc ixi ~,,.. ~'.,,... 41. Oil alio «i>oll«Q]l| ("OftfcpSOc] some rivers ihAy at-e spat-eely* searrilf&d for miles. These form the staple of our home consumption, and of our exportation, many of which, according to locality, have a peculiar character amongst oyster dealers, known by the color and shape of the shell as well as their color. Drift oysters are those attached to the common whelk, and moved about at the will of that shellfish, aud are found on the margin of the receding tide. These oysters formerly were highly prized from their peculiar plumpness, clear color, and fine condition, rendered so probably from the situation they occupied and clean feeding grounds. Our harbor and Botany Bay used at one time to furnish a good supply. The early destruction of the oyster beds in our harbor aud Botany Buy arose from the fact of their easy accessibility, and the constant and wanton use of them for burning into what was termed " live shell lime," parties at that time believing that they made an article stronger and of better quality than any other. What should be the Close Season ? —This has been a difficult matter to

determine, and as the months at home range from May to September, it was presumed and taker, for granted that ours should be diametrically opposite Few of the oyster * droghers,' or the dealers in this nrticle, could give any reliable informali.>n. So long as their ends were accomplished supply and demand appeared immaterial. Ir has been stated, but upon what authority I cannot discover, that the oysters spawned in the same months here as they do in England. Under these circumstances I have used more than ordinary precaution in my observation, and have sought information from every source at command for the purpose of ascertaining about the time it would be judicious and proper to set apart as a close season ; and although the time which I an\ about to submit may, in certain localities, require some slight alteration, nevertheless in the main I do not think any serious alarm need be apprehended through a slight error of time, taking into consideration that the greater portion of it will be correct, and during which most of the oysters will have spawned, the spat assumed its proper shape, and have a chance to arrive at maturity. At Port Stephens, the Myall Eiver had continuous beds for miles from its entrance, and also from Sawyer's point, for miles up the Karuah ; these oysters spawn early in October and to the end of January. The Hunter Eiver oysters spawn from about the middle of October to the early part of February. Sydney and Botany Bay at the latter end of October to the middle of February. George's Eiver, November to February. Port Hacking, November to February. Clyde River, near the mouth, about November to February ; higher up, under the influence of the cold waters from the mountain country, about three or four weeks later. Oysters are brought from as far north as the Clarence Eiver. On the Bth February, 1866, I saw a number of bags full there ready for shipment ; and on the south from | Tuross and probably Merimbula, but I do not recollect any having been brought from as far south as Twofold Bay. The intermediate riverß, both north and south, have oyster beds more or less, and it must be borne in mind that oysters situated high up rivers, and under the influence of cold mountain water, such as the Clyde and the Clarence afford, are from two to four weeks later in their commencement of spawning than those near to the mouth. I have also noted another influence, when oysters are attached to rocks in shady corners —they appear to be somewhat later. The means usually employed for getting oysters are the dredge, tongs, by divers, and collecting from the rocks. The rivers most exhausted are those appertaining to Port Stephens, the Hunter, Broken Bay, Sydney, Botany Bay, Port the Clyde, '' and the Tuross. The present supply is equal to the demand, and some new fields untouched, chiefly from the want of steam communication or the means of rapid and regular transit. At the same time the beds which have been so long and continuously worked are getting exhausted ; what remain are manifestly deteriorated, and require a period of rest. Under these circumstances, and were it not for the fact that a close season should be made to apply to all parts of the colony alike, to ensure perfect security for the due enj forcemeat of the law (for such it must become, sooner or later), in all probability I should have recommended an earlier season by one month both for the beginning and ending to the north of Sydney than I should for the south. I now take leave to suggest as a close season for New South Wales the months of November, December, and January, which months will, at all events in my opinion, cover the greater portion of tho spawning season ; and in doing so I have not been unmindful of the necessity to prepare the public mind for a reasonable restriction and limit of the fishing season, and now invite attention for the purpose of eliciting such further information as will give a data for any modification which may be deemed advisable and absolutely necessary for the purpose of fixing a more precise period as the close season —and which should embrace all the northern and southern estuaries wherever our supplies are drawn.