OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 535 



cases containing these latter specimens were taken into 

 the upper basins, which, as I have just said, are uncovered, 

 and receive the sea at almost every tide. There they soon 

 got fat, and became green, but as winter set in, sickness 

 carried them off. The summer was not more favourable, 

 and out of 15,000 "young oysters," scarcely 3000 

 survived. 



This series of mishaps disclosed certain facts which 

 did not escape the observation of M. Camac. He con- 

 cluded that the upper part of the area of his operations did 

 not afford the conditions necessary for the growth of the 

 mollusc. Having tried, without satisfactory results, to 

 alter the character of his cases, he determined next year to 

 place all his "young oysters" at the edge of the river, on 

 a point which is left uncovered only at spring tides, and at 

 a depth of 30 metres at high-water. 



At the following spring tide it was seen that the 

 oysters had visibly progressed, and by the month of 

 October they had attained a size exceeding expectation. 



Three thousand spat were sent last year from Auray, to 

 Fossemort ; the tiles upon which they were fastened 

 remained in the claires up to April of this year, when the 

 separation of the oysters was effected. The spat was 

 divided among 350 cases for oysters set up in the lower 

 part of the concession. Every month these cases are 

 inspected, and the mud which has deposited itself inside, 

 and the marine plants which, by sticking to the wires, 

 impede the circulation of the water, are removed. 



At the end of the month of August of this year the 

 growth rose from 2 to 200^. 



In spite of all the losses sustained in former years, M. 

 Camac expects this year to deliver for consumption from 

 270,000 to 300,000 oysters measuring 7 to 9 centimetres. 



