670 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



fascines are untied, the branches taken apart, and those 

 bearing oysters are placed between perpendicular cords 

 similar to those used for mussels. The young oysters which 

 are detached during this operation are placed either in 

 baskets, on screens, or in nets suspended from the horizontal 

 ropes, but never on the bottom. This system of breeding 

 avoids general mortality. At least every four months the 

 cables and other apparatus carrying the young oysters are 

 taken up and examined. Those oysters which have become 

 large enough to sell are removed, and advantage is taken 

 of this opportunity to give those which ought to remain 

 some time longer in the pare the cleaning and care which 

 they need. The growth of the oyster takes place rapidly 

 and regularly ; from two to two and a half years suffice for 

 the young oysters to reach a diameter of from 7 to 8 centi- 

 meters (about 3 inches). 



The oyster of Tarente is of good growth ; its shell is 

 usually rather thick, this being due to the great amount 

 of calcareous matter contained in the sea-water. This 

 peculiarity, however, in no way impairs the regularity of 

 its form. 



The number of oysters obtained each year from the 

 pares of Tarente is estimated at about 10,000,000. Before 

 forwarding them they are exposed to the air for twenty-four 

 hours, in order that they may be the more easily cleaned 

 afterwards. The sale of oysters is absolutely free, whatever 

 may be their size, or the season. But it is unnecessary to 

 state that during the summer, the period of gestation, 

 oysters are never sold. It is, moreover, to the advantage 

 of the fishermen that their oysters should have attained a 

 good size before being offered for sale. 



The prosperity of the fishermen of Tarente is unfortu- 

 nately disturbed from time to time. From a volcanic 



