472 GEOGKAPHICAL EEVIBW OP THE FISHERIES. 



laws of Virginia upon planting are so often changed that they tend to discourage this important 

 industry. If au oysterman rents from the State a certain extent of planting ground, he is never 

 sure that he will be able to keep possession of it, and, of course, should it pass out of his hands, he 

 loses on account of having to sell his oysters before they fatten, or transfer them to some other 

 ground. During the last session of the Virginia legislature it was proposed to sell all planting- 

 grounds belonging to the State; and so long as this subject remains unsettled it would certainly 

 be unwise for oystermen to rent and plant on State grounds. The vacillating and changeable 

 policy hitherto pursued by the legislature in its treatment of the oyster question, if co;;tinued, will 

 certainly result in incalculable loss to the oyster interests of Virginia. 



In planting oysters in Maryland and Virginia, the plants are merely thrown broadcast over 

 the ground, and then allowed to take care of themselves. This system is so far different from the 

 course pursued in Europe that, merely to show the contrast, I append an extract from a letter 

 lately received from Mr. George Walker, United States consul-general at Paris, upon oyster culture 

 at Arcacbon, France: 



"The oyster production takes place each year, from May 15 to July 15. During this interval 

 each cultivator disposes upon the concession accorded to him i. e.,tipon what is called hisjwA 1 

 a certain number of tiles, called collectors, plastered or covered with a mortar composed of sand 

 and lime. These tiles are inclosed in wooden cages, so constructed as to prevent the access of fish, 

 which, without this precaution, would cause great damage to the young oysters. Then begins the 

 formation upon the submerged tiles of small brown spots, which slowly become transformed into 

 the shell fish. In the month of January of the following year the shells usually attain a diameter 

 of from 1 to 3 centimeters. 



"At this period the cultivators proceed to the operation of dltrocoge which consists iu 

 detaching the oysters from the tiles. This operation is rendered easy by reason of the plaster 

 covering, which, by the way, prevents deterioration iu the shells. The detrocage lasts gener- 

 ally until April. This operation terminated, the young oysters are disposed in square basins or 

 pools, scooped out iu the sand in the same park. These basins are called claires, and serve to 

 keep the oysters under the water at low tide, to prevent them from drying. Here they remain 

 until attaining a diameter of 5 to 7 centimeters, when they are ready for market. To reach this 

 final stage they remain in the claires usually from sixteen to eighteen mouths. A portion of 

 the Arcachon oysters are then sent to La Tremblade, near Mareuues, where they are placjed iu 

 special claires to become what are known as green oysters (hicitres rertes). The remaining 

 portion is sent directly to domestic markets or exported to England, which country absorbs at 

 least 36,000,000 per annum." 



From other sources I have learned that oyster farming in France is steadily on the increase, 

 and that there are now 36,933 oyster-cultivating establishments, owned by 40,686 persons. Perhaps 

 in future years the cultivation of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay will be conducted with the same 

 care as in France, and then the trade will be of incalculable benefit to Maryland and Virginia. 



The following letter from Mr. J. W. Hipkins, of Milton, oyster-inspector of Richmond County, 

 Virginia, is of such an interesting character that I take the liberty of giving it iu full : 



"In front of this village there is a line of oyster rocks, iu length about 2 miles, half mile iu 

 breadth, called Sycamore Drain Rocks, famous for hundreds of years for the superior quality of 

 oysters, much esteemed for restaurant purposes in all the large markets. Fifteen years ago, to the 

 boat of two hands, with ordinary oyster tongs, 20 tubs per day could be taken; at this time 4 

 tubs per day is about the average catch. These oysters are round, single, hard shell, and rarely 

 poor. They command here from 60 cents to $1 per tub. If we could have a law enacted giving 



