OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 549 



from Auray or La Trinite". The spat is shut up in metallic 

 cases with wooden frames, and the young oysters, which 

 have nothing to fear from crabs, are laid on the ground. 

 The oyster grows rapidly in the basin of Le Breneguy, and 

 the qualities which can be acquired there are analogous to 

 those for which Belon is famous. 



As at Belon, oysters dredged and laid down quickly 

 alter, and an advantageous change in the shell takes place. 



M. d'Argy proposes to complete the work, already so 

 advanced at Le Breneguy, by attempts at reproduction on a 

 large scale. My opinion is that this establishment, which 

 can already deliver many millions of oysters for consump- 

 tion, has a great future in prospect. 



On the River of La Trinite, I shall mention, among 

 others, the establishments of Dr. Gressy, to whom are due 

 certain improvements effected in the methods of culture. 



The Isle of Cuhan, where he has settled down to work, 

 contains rearing-basins cut in the rocks. Owing to their 

 high situation, they are only watered twice a week. In 

 these basins Dr. Gressy has tried to obtain the greening of 

 the oyster. The end desired has been obtained. But the 

 oysters lost in travelling a part of the colouring which dis- 

 tinguishes the Marennes oysters. The methods of culti- 

 vating the oyster are about the same at La Trinite as at 

 Auray. 



Nevertheless, in the River Crach, some parc-owners 

 find it preferable to separate their young oysters at the 

 beginning of winter. This premature separation is justified 

 by the fact that the spat grows more quickly in the River 

 of La Trinite, and its shell is strong enough to stand the 

 operation at this time. 



