598 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



mounted. The collectors, if disposed in hives, would 

 become rapidly covered with mud ; this method has con- 

 sequently been discarded in favour of that which is called 

 the bouquet or champignon. 



The tiles are pierced with one hole at each extremity, 

 and are joined some 12 or 14 together by means of wire. 



They are then attached firmly to the head of a stake, 

 i m. to i m. 50 in length, which can be easily fixed in the 

 ground. 



This system, the first idea of which is due to M. 

 Leroux, has the double advantage of preventing the accu- 

 mulation of mud on the collectors, and of rendering the 

 fixing of these engines easier and more rapid. 



The time which appears to be the most favourable for 

 laying down the tiles is in Brittany from the ist to the 2oth 

 of July. This date is one month later than that in which, 

 in the basin of Arcachon, this operation is conducted. The 

 difference is easily explained by the difference in tempera- 

 ture at these two points on our sea-coast. 



The use of boxes is not so frequent in Brittany as at 

 Arcachon. For this there are several reasons, the most 

 important of which is the following : While the oyster 

 cultivators at Arcachon are unable to export their oysters 

 until they have attained the size of five centimetres, the 

 Bretons are at liberty to sell, generally, the oyster while in 

 the condition of spat, and are not bound to occupy them- 

 selves with the rearing. 



The question of price is an important one, especially 

 as oyster culture is still in its infancy in this district. 



A certain number of oyster cultivators in Brittany sub- 

 stitute, to some extent, for the use of boxes, the use of what 

 is termed Vhuitre a lessons. 



