6 14 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



Arcachon, or the fine-shelled pearly oyster of some rivers 

 in Brittany, the green oyster of Marennes, or the deep and 

 nourishing oyster of Sables d'Olonne, have lost none of 

 their purity or primitive qualities. It seems needless to 

 reproduce the reasons, which are of a serious character, by 

 means of which this theory has been combated. 



Here we will make one simple remark. It will soon 

 be 30 years since the Portuguese oyster was introduced 

 into the waters of Arcachon. If it had exercised on the 

 native oyster of the basin the influence attributed to it, it 

 is quite clear that in this ostricultural station no single 

 oyster would be found free from the effects of the cross. 



But can a single district be cited in which this oyster 

 has produced a ruinous effect, or has diminished fertility ? 

 Has it done so to the oysters of Arcachon ? The ctassats 

 which have not been transformed into pares, or the chenaux 

 of the basin, are they less productive than formerly ? Have 

 the remarkably rich banks of Brittany (and the Portuguese 

 oyster has been placed in pares in the Auray and Trinity 

 rivers) suffered in the least degree ? Does the dredge 

 bring to light many Portuguese oysters or hybrids ? No ; 

 we repeat that these fears have not been justified, and this 

 is so for the reason already given, viz., that the two descrip- 

 tions of oysters live and flourish under different physical 

 conditions. 



Moreover, the experience which is described below 

 demonstrates scientifically the hollowness of the doctrine 

 of hybridation. 



The most certain mode of ascertaining whether a cross 

 could take place consisted in bringing together the gener- 

 ative elements of each species taking part, or supposed to 

 take part, in it. 



