594 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



Such then at the present time is the condition of the 

 oyster industry in the basin of Arcachon, a condition which 

 is certainly remarkable and worthy of fixed attention. 



MORBIHAN. 



Another important centre for the production of oysters 

 exists on our Breton coasts. It is known under the name 

 of the Oyster Basin of Auray. 



The cultivation of oysters in this region is of recent date. 

 It is now fifteen or sixteen years since the first collectors 

 were placed in the rivers of Morbihan. The centre of the 

 operations is to be found in the rivers or creeks which run 

 into or open out in the Bay of Quiberon. The oyster 

 breeding establishments in going from west to east, occupy 

 successively the Creek of Po, the Trinity River, the Creek 

 of St. Philibert, and the Auray River. 



Natural beds of oysters exist in most of these rivers. 

 The most important are those in the Auray River, which 

 are about 22 kilometres in length, and those of the Trinity 

 and St. Philibert rivers, which extend for about 1 5 kilometres. 



Unfortunately these beds are in bad condition. This 

 year they have been carefully explored by dredging, and 

 the results obtained have been far from satisfactory. 



Subjoined is a table showing the results of oyster 

 fishing in the district of Auray from 1876 to 1881. 



