OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 617 



At the commencement of last season, considering the 

 slow progress our researches had made, we had no hope of 

 being able to solve in a single campaign the problem of 

 artificial fecundation, as applied to ostricultural industry. 



In resuming our labours, we felt bound to give serious 

 attention to the choice of a locality suitable for our experi- 

 ments. 



The position of Verdon, situated on the left bank of 

 the Gironde, and some kilometres from the mouth of that 

 river, appeared to us to combine the desired conditions. 

 We were sure to find there oysters fitted for reproduction 

 as well as suitable waters. As a matter of fact, the first 

 fecundation, which we tried by way of experiment, gave 

 us, after fourteen hours, moving larva, and this, too, 

 although the spawning season did not commence till a 

 month later. 



M. Tripota, a veteran, and at the same time a most 

 competent ostriculturist, was so good, at the request of M. 

 Commissary Jouan, and with a good grace and disinter- 

 ested feeling, for which we are glad to be able to thank 

 him, as to place at our disposal two beautiful claires not 

 intended for submersion, which received fresh water several 

 days during spring tide. These were soon adapted to our 

 requirements by means of some slight internal arrangements. 

 Separated from each other by a substantial belt of earth, 

 these two sheets of water, each of a superficial area of 

 about 100 metres, and of an average depth of 80 centi- 

 metres to the metre, were supplied by one common trench. 

 A pipe, each end of which was furnished with a strong 

 sponge for the purpose of retaining the bodies held in 

 suspension by the water, formed a communication between 

 them. In this manner no doubt could subsist as to the 

 origin of the spat collected. 



