600 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



YEAR 1 880-81. 



The number of oysters imported into Marennes was 

 190,000,000, of which 130,000,000 were introduced into 

 viviers and depdts, and 60,000,000 were introduced into 

 claires. 



Of the 130,000,000, 40,000,000 were Portuguese and 

 90,000,000 French oysters. 



YEAR 1 880-81. 



Oysters exported from Marennes, 151,000,000. Of 

 this number, 54,000,000 Portuguese and 47,000,000 French 

 went from the viviers and depots ; 50,000,000 were produced 

 from claires. 



Marennes has sent out this year 151,000,000 oysters, 

 representing a value of 5,900,000 francs. 



I should point out, Sir, that, for the reasons already 

 stated, these figures should be raised rather than lowered. 



Marennes, then, it will be seen, in addition to the 

 oysters reared in the claires, carries on an important trade 

 in oysters. Of the 190,000,000 imported in 1880-81, 

 60,000,000 only went into the claires. 



It is also impossible not to perceive how the trade in 

 Portuguese oysters has developed. Of the 151,000,000 of 

 oysters sold this year, 54,000,000 were Portuguese. 



I must now pause for an instant to dwell on the care 

 bestowed by the cultivators of this district on their claires. 

 Not that I desire now to bring forward facts already well 

 known, but because I conceive that the administration of 

 the clairts of Marennes might be imitated with advantage 

 in other centres of oyster cultivation. 



The claires are placed on both banks of the Seudre ; 

 they are not, as at Arcachon, submerged at each tide, but 



