516 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



Without giving a separate account of the two estab- 

 lishments set up at Grand Camp in 1874 by Messrs. 

 Febvre and Andre", it is enough to say that they have been 

 organised on the same principle, and I shall describe more 

 closely that of M. Febvre, on the model of which M. 

 Frangois Andre" has also carried on his work. 



Surrounded by high dykes, which shelter it both from 

 wind and storm, and situated at a distance of one kilometre 

 from Grand Camp, beyond the dune or sandhill, and on 

 low-lying ground, this establishment covers an area of five 

 hectares. It is divided into 32 parallel basins, of which 

 the greater number are 45 metres long and 15 broad, and 

 i m. 5 deep. They are constructed of unmortared stone, 

 and are separated by the pathways leading from one to 

 another. Each basin is provided with a wherry, which the 

 workmen can move about easily. 



The water is received from the sea at the old Fort 

 Samson, about 50 metres from the higher pares. It can 

 be changed at every tide, and is received into two recep- 

 tacles, and carried towards the chief establishment by an 

 'underground duct, i m. 5 in breadth and depth. 



The water is distributed by means of strong floodgates, 

 which also keep in the water when the tide goes down. A 

 feeding canal, running the length of the establishment, 

 which it divides in two, carries the water in every direc- 

 tion. The reservoirs are supplied with sluice-taps for 

 letting water in and out. As the pares have been formed 

 on land having a slight incline, and as they inter-commu- 

 nicate, a current inside can, when wanted, be produced. I 

 should add that several little springs rise in the basin itself 

 and modify the saline qualities of the sea water. The 

 soil is essentially argillaceous. 



