ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTIVATION. 1165 



wattles, &c., have all been used indiscriminately and with 

 varying success. 



The actual composition of the collector has very little 

 to do with its attractive power for oysters, as. it appears 

 that they do not derive any nourishment, even in a shell- 

 constructing point of view, from the material to which they 

 are affixed. 



COLLECTORS. FASCINES. 



It was from Lake Fusaro, where they have been em- 

 ployed from time immemorial to intercept the spawn, that 

 M. Coste first obtained his idea of faggots as collectors. 

 He introduced them to the French fishermen, and they 

 were used, with great success at the outset, at several 

 places on the coast of Brittany ; they have also been tried 

 at Herne Bay, Brading, and other places in England. 



The " fascines" should be slung on ropes or wires, 

 attached to posts, and fixed in rows along the foreshore, 

 the bundles being supported some two or three feet above 

 the oysters which are scattered beneath them. The wood 

 composing the faggots should be hard and dry, and cut at 

 least twelve months before it is used for this purpose. 

 Furze has also been tried, and has been found to answer 

 fairly well. Its cheapness is a recommendation in its 

 favour. 



The advantage claimed for fascines as collectors when 

 first introduced in modern times, was the ease with which 

 the ovsters could be detached from them. At this time 



j 



stones were the only available substitutes, but now that 

 improved collectors have been introduced, fascines are 

 rarely if ever used. 



They are totally unsuited for any place where there is 

 a tideway running, as in such localities they act far more 



