534 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



water runs every tide into a millsluice, in which oysters 

 have been laid to fatten, and the fresh water of a small 

 brook is also emptied into the sluice. 



In this particular spot the development and growth of 

 the oyster has taken place with marvellous rapidity, and 

 this phenomenon is attributed to the fresh water, the 

 presence of which is very favourable, and above all to the 

 numerous elements of nutrition brought by the brook. 



FOSSEMORT, NEAR SAINT MALO. 



In 1873 M. Camac obtained a concession from the 

 Minister of Marine, of 3 hectares on the River Ranee, near 

 Menehic. The Ranee formerly contained several oyster- 

 beds, and more recently, as I said in the introduction, M. 

 de Bon succeeded in re-establishing some oyster-beds. 

 At first M. Camac had little success ; but the more 

 numerous the obstacles, the more obstinately did M. 

 Camac, who is an American, set to work to overcome 

 them. 



The upper part of the area worked rises in the shape 

 of an amphitheatre. It is 150 to 200 metres from the bed 

 of the river, and the sea covers it at every tide, except 

 during neap tide. It was here that the first claires were 

 excavated, measuring 40 metres in length by 10 in breadth, 

 and 0*6 in depth, which served for the first experiments. 



The oysters and spat employed came from Auray. On 

 arrival, the spat already adhering to collectors was detached 

 and enclosed in cases of galvanised wire placed in the 

 claires. The oysters of 18 months' growth were enclosed 

 in similar cases, and were put into deep water. 



The spat made no progress during the summer; the 

 cold of winter carried away the greater part, but the oysters 

 on the bottom prospered. In the month of October the 



