The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-26 00:00:00

Oyster Culture in the Isle of Wight

The bedding and fattening of oysters are not un-
known in the Isle of Wight, for Newport oysters
are " celebrities," and highly estimated amongst us,
and we have seen in some town on the mainland of
Hampshire " Newport Oysters" placarded as dain-
ties. Brading Harbour has also been devoted to
the above purposes, but the speculators went no
further. Tubs of oysters more or less have been de-
posited in those places at the proper time, and,
when duly grown or fattened, disposed of at an en-
hanced price ; but until the capital, skill, and enter-
prise lately devoted by Mr. W. L. Kulbach to the
subject, no one ventured to speculate so far in the
business as to introduce oyster culture into the
waters of the island.

About 12 months back, Mr. W. L. Kulbach, an
officer in the army, made arrangements with Sir H.
Oglander, Bart., for leasing Brading Harbour for
the purpose of constructing ponds for breeding oys-
ters, and providing all other things necessary for
such an undertaking. Mr. Kulbach has also pur-
chased the rights of those who had previously bedded
oysters in the harbour ; consequently he now pos-
sesses full and undivided sway over the whole of it,
and also to all the oysters that may be found there,
stray waifs, from former deposits. Having thus ob-
tained a field, or rather a " flood," for his opera-
tions, Mr. Kulbach commenced his works last Sep-
tember 12 month, which have progressed very
favourably until the present time.
Near the mill in the harbour may be observed
four large breeding ponds, one of which is about 70
feet long by 56 feet wide ; the other three are nearly
of the same dimensions. These ponds are well em-
banked, supported by piles, gravelled, and perfectly
firm and sound ; are admirably adapted for the
purpose, having hard, clean bottoms, mud being
very pernicious and injurious to the growth of the
" spat ;" they are thatched over with fascines (vul-
garly faggots), and secured with galvanised wire ;
they have been constructed upon the best prin-
ciple, and supplied with everything necessary to
give success to the undertaking ; they are from
eighteen inches to two feet in depth. They remain
full at the lowest tides, consequently the oysters are
always submerged, and at high water the site of the
ponds can only be discovered by the ash poles which
surround then. A large space of the harbour re-
mains unoccupied at present, but will be filled in as
circumstances may require. . .

Already a great number of oysters are ripening
and fattening for the market. We have heard it
stated that Whitstable natives, if removed from their
parent soil or water, would not retain their flavour;
we tasted one of these first-rate fish the other day
which had been deposited in Brading. Harbour for
some time (we do not know how long), but its
flavour and appearance were unchanged.
At the season at which the " spat" falls any change
in the atmosphere acts unfavourably for the future
product; the oyster likes cleanliness and smoothness,
is fond of oyster shells, perrywinkles, broken crock-
ery, glass, tiles, iron, and wood, upon which it de-
posits its spawn.
Mr. Frank Buckland, who is an authority in these
matters, at a late meeting of the British Associa-
tion, expressed his opinion that those who expected
the young oyster to attach itself to the facines would
find it a mistake, as the wood was chiefly useful in
attracting weeds and mud. The French cultivators
tried these facines largely, and Mr. Kulbach showed
us a portion of wood to which a large number of
young oysters were adhering, and which he had him-
self brought from the bay of Brieuc ; this at any rate
proves that wood is not always a failure.
The development of the resources of any locality
is a subject for warm congratulation, whether on
account of its oil, its waters, or its productions. The
peculiarly favourable position of Brading Har-
bour has presented itself to the experienced eye
of Kulbach for an establishment to carry out the
cultivation of the oyster.
We have already expressed a hope that the specu-
lation may prove successful, and that Mr. Kulbach's
efforts may prove prosperous in a pecuniary sense to
himself, while we feel confident that the Isle of
Wight generally cannot fail to derive advantage
from every commercial or manufacturing establish-
ment founded within its limits.—lsle of Wight Times.