OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 497 



of places on the English and Irish coasts where such farms 

 could be advantageously laid down. 



Since the previous editions of this work were issued 

 (continues Mr. Bertram), bad news has been received 

 about the French oyster-farms, many of them having 

 become exhausted through the greed of their proprietors, 

 who at an early period began to kill the goose for the sake 

 of its golden egg, a calamity that seems to be too fre- 

 quently an attendant consequence of the present system of 

 fishing economy. In the year 1863, as far as I can ascer- 

 tain, the artificial system culminated at the He de Re, and 

 since then the beds have yearly become less prolific. 



Such was the practical state of Oyster Culture in 

 France at the time when Mr. Bertram wrote his " Harvest 

 of the Sea," a highly-interesting and deeply-instructive 

 work, as valuable to the pisciculturist and ostreologist of 

 the period of its publication, as it is even now for reference 

 to all concerned. 



That considerable progress has been made by the 

 French in this industry is beyond all doubt, and, aside 

 from " Reports," is proved in the Marquis of Lome's 

 pleasing sketch already quoted from, and whence desirous 

 of impressing the reader with a just appreciation of its 

 value from a national standpoint, together with its exem- 

 plary lesson for our tardy, and, in this case, short-sighted 

 Government, I respectfully venture to conclude this 

 chapter with yet another extract, all which, though drawn 

 upon without permission, will, I am led to hope, be ex- 

 cused ; the more readily so, perhaps, since the following 

 quotation will serve to strengthen my statement in regard to 

 the high state of perfective utility in Oyster Culture attained 

 to by the French, at the present time. 



