OYSTER-INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 277 



was not in use in France. On the other hand, I guarded myself against 

 a too ready acceptance of statements which at first sight were plausi- 

 ble, ami never accepted them without confirmation. In the United 

 States, more perhaps than anywhere else, statements should be ac- 

 cepted with allowance ; for, notwithstanding the coldness, seriousness, 

 and reserve of the people, they are singularly prone to exaggeration 

 in everything that relates to the commerce, manufactures, or greatness 

 of their country. This extreme self-esteem, which is to some extent 

 meritorious, is one of their most prominent characteristics. During my 

 investigations concerning the oyster-fisheries, I frequently received the 

 most conflicting and sometimes erroneous statements. 



Notwithstanding the most presistent efforts, I failed to find in the 

 book-stores or libraries either in Boston, New York, or Philadelphia a 

 single treatise upon shell-fisheries. I could only obtain a few incom- 

 plete statistical documents and newspaper articles, and these discussed 

 the subject only in its commercial aspects. 



As to the raising of the mollusks and their planting, my only mode 

 of obtaining information was to visit the establishments, and talk with 

 the fishermen ; and I ought not to omit to commend these sea-faring 

 people, for, their reserve once thrown aside, I found them uniformly 

 obliging, and ready to furnish me with the information I required. 



In closing, your excellency, I would express my acknowledgments 

 for the kind aid extended to me by the French consuls at New York 

 and Boston, and also my sense of the great favor conferred upon me, 

 being intrusted with a commission which brought me into such close re- 

 lations with those eminent scientists, M. Coste and Professor Agassiz ; 

 a great privilege to any one desirous of instruction. 



I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your obedient servant, 



DE BEOCA, 



Lieutenant of the Imperial Marine and Director of the Port of Havre. 



Havre, October 12, 1862. 



CHAPTER FIRST. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The aphorism of Brillat Savariu, " The discovery of a new dish does 

 more for the happiness of the human race than the discovery of a new 

 star," has never proved itself more true than in our time, when the con- 

 tinual increase of population adds each day to the importance of the ques- 

 tion of public alimentation. France, upon a comparatively limited ter- 

 ritory, nows numbers over forty millions of inhabitants j and, notwith. 

 standing the fertility of her soil, the perfection of her agriculture, and 

 the number of her flocks and herds, it cannot be denied that the rate 

 of her production is begiuning to be less than that of her consumption. 



