ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTURE. 1077 



coast of France. In 1860 there were many young broods 

 upon the beds near the island of Re and near Rocher 

 d'Aire, and but few broo.ds at Arcachon ; 1861 was a good 

 brood year for all three places ; 1862 bad for the island of 

 Re and good for both the others ; and in 1865 there were 

 very many young in the Bay of Arcachon, and but few near 

 Rocher d'Aire and the island of Re. These facts show 

 that local conditions can either favour or prevent the 

 production of broods of young oysters in one and the 

 same year. 



On the 6th of April, 1876, Mr. F. Pennell made a 

 communication to the Commission for the investigation of 

 the British oyster-fisheries, and at the same time remarked 

 that, according to his experience, the number of young 

 oysters in each brood period was dependent upon the 

 number of breeding oysters, but that, nevertheless, at 

 times, extraordinarily large numbers of young were pro- 

 duced. Whoever has followed thus far the detailed 

 statements which I have made must be obliged to confess 

 that Nature is not to blame for the impoverishment of the 

 oyster-beds along the western coast of Europe during the 

 last century, for neither have the external conditions of life 

 for the oyster become less favourable nor has the fecundity 

 of single animals become less, (m} 



Armed with such an opinion, based upon incontro- 

 vertible facts, from so eminent an authority as Mobius, I 

 may proceed in giving my reasons jfor assuming that at 

 least the French, if not the American system of oyster 

 culture could be successfully followed in England. 



When M. Coste visited Lake Fusaro the plan of the 

 oyster breeders there struck him as " being eminently 

 practical, and suitable for imitation on the coasts of France." 

 (m) " The Oyster and Oyster Culture," p. 47. 



