500 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



repaired. To prevent the deposit of mud from doing harm, 

 it is necessary also to make the surface within the low sand 

 walls convex, with a depression all around just within the 

 dykes, so that there may be a natural surface drainage for 

 the ebbing waters to flow off the centre ground, where the 

 shells have been placed. This must be kept clear of weeds 

 as well as fish of prey. The shells, too, must be frequently 

 handled, and kept free of any weed that may attach itself 

 to them. 



Thus all these precautions require work and attention, 

 and so the four thousand people employed in the Bay get 

 their living and fair wages, too, are earned. A man gets 

 three francs a day, a woman two and a half, and youths 

 and girls two francs. It is estimated that 200,000 people 

 get their living in France in this way. Pretty heavy work 

 has to be undertaken to keep the ground clear. All weeds 

 must be removed, cockles and sand laid down where there 

 is not enough, and a good clean floor made if it be not 

 there. The annelides or worms, too, must be got rid of. 

 They are injurious sometimes they collect around them a 

 mass of matter bad for their more delicate neighbours. 

 ' It does not so much matter about the little worms,' said 

 our friend, ' the little worms spit, but they don't blow like 

 the big fat worms the taupes : those are the rascals they 

 blow, and they scatter the mud about.' 



The French Government has lately taken a step with 

 regard to the oyster fisheries of the Republic, which is 

 likely to create some talk in this country, especially among 

 people who believe in the need and efficacy of ' close 

 time " as a means of protecting the " young beds." The 

 following relative information is taken from the Morning 

 Post, 1889: 



