THE ROCK OYSTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10411, 8 April 1897, Page 3

THE ROCK OYSTERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have rend with much interest the letters of Mr. Ford aud Mr. Lowndes, dated .. respectively 25th and 29th March, and that of "T.F." in this morning's paper. The whole ot the northern division of the oyster fishery is now open. Speaking of the middle and northern sub-division, Mr. Ford says, these were open last year, but th« northern has mud oysters only, and the middle is literally cleaned out already. The southern sub-division, which 1 understand extends from Whangaruru to the river Waitangi, must therefore supply the whole of tins season's demand, and it is very significant, in the present state of the rock oyster question, that Mr. Ford concludes with the statement that "the northern oyster beds will be cleaned out after this year, and will not stand working for years to come.' From my own observation of about 13 miles of the Coromaudel foreshore, a couple of weeks ago, - I am convinced that Mr. Ford is right, and am strongly of opinion that the Government ought not anywhere to allow any oyster picking duriug this season or for the next three or four years. Mr. Lowndes (as in 1889, when this subject was much discussed) is, I am glad to see, still an advocate for stopping the exportation of rock oysters, pointing out that this export benefits a few people at the expense of the whole community. It is not so easy to concur with Mr, Lowndes in his pathetic remarks about "hunted oystermeu aud fishermen," many of whom are partly responsible for the present scarcity. They have been recklessly engaged for many years in bringing about the gradual extinction of the rock oyster, and if it be for the benefit of the whole community that their damaging occupation should cease for a time, no one has any right to complain. Had former Governments done their duty by. prohibiting exportation, as they have frequently been urged to do, there would now be no scarcity of oysters, and fewer, perhaps no men to be thrown out of employment. Mr. Welby stated in ISS9 that if the export were stopped twenty men could get all the oysters that were required for home consumption. Mr. Welby may be relied on as a good authority, for he was the largest exporter, more than half the men in the fishery being then in his employ. Your correspondent "T.F." also desires that the export of oysters should cease. All will sympathise with his desire that thin delicacy should come within the reach of tha humblest citizen, but it may be observed that the oyster is not a necessary article of food. It is at present a luxury from which we are required to abstain until by a mereperfect system of conservation the supply becomes more plentiful. He objects to the leasing system (which I proposed in 18S9, and which I am pleased to find is already commenced in the Mauukau), upon the ground that no one should have exclusive rights to what is the property of the whole community. You might as well say that no one should be permitted to purchase or to lease land. We hear too much about abstract rights uowadays. There are duties as well as rights. Alfred Austin has said :-

Rights used to mean duty; you'll find That now there's no duty, but only rights. The community, whatever may be iti rights, lias failed in its duty to conserve and protect a natural and delicious product oi our foreshores which is threateued with extinction. I now ask the Government as representing the community to do its duty— to abandon the half but well-intentioned measures which have proved useless for so many years, and to adopt some system which will effect the object desired. From experience of our oyster foreshores during a period of 36 years, and having given some attention and study to the subject, I am led to the conclusion that the following steps are required to be taken with as little delay as possible :— 1. To remove the oyster fishery from all political influence by the appointment of Commissioners to control the same independently of the Government. 2. To prohibit the export of oysters forthwith. Such prohibition to remain iu force until the home consumption shall be fully satisfied, and until the Commissioners are of opinion that exportation may be safely resumed.

3. Regulations to be made by the Commissioners prescribing specified localities from which oysters may be taken for export, and limiting the quantity of oysters so exported, from time to time, as may be required. 4. To close all oyster forshores for a period of from three to six years, as the Commissioners may decide. _ 5. To convert the rock oyster foreshores into private property, by leasing to responsible persons, under such conditions and regulations as the Commissioners may prescribe. Such conditions and regulations to ensure good management, to prevent monopoly and dummyisin, to limit the extent of frontage that ally lessee may occupy, to encourage lessees in the production of good marketable oysters in such quantities as to be of public advantage, by granting reward leases to those who, in respect of specially good management, or other improved modes of increasing the production, shall, in the opinion of the Commissioners, be entitled to same, and to provide tor forfeiture where lessees do not comply with the conditions or regulations. _ Consideration should be riven to the question, what extent of foreshore may be leased to the owners of large islands, such as Ponni, and it would be desirable and, I think, popular, that owners of land immediately adjacent to the oysters foreshores should, subject to the regulations, have the preference when they may desire oyster leases. Permit me to say, in conclusion, that in again addressing you upon this subject, I have no private interest to serve.—l am, etc., April 2. Albert J. Allom.