286 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



limited numbers ; but there, they think, all useful results end. Yet 

 experience in the United States, where the secret of the culture consists 

 in raising upon nutritive soil the mollusks removed from the places of 

 production, evidently shows the fallacy of this opinion. 



As the example of the American planters proves, nothing is easier 

 than to remove the young oysters attached to the collecting apparatus, 

 and to plant them in hurdles or narrow stalls very well sheltered, the 

 bottom of which is firm enough to prevent their being smothered by the 

 mud. This can be doue at no great expense, and with no complicated 

 manipulation; and, in a few months, the mollusks will be strong enough 

 to defend themselves from ordinary causes of mortality. 



It is an unfortunate error, prevalent among mariners, which supposes 

 that what appertains to the productions of the sea should not be modified 

 by the hand of man, and they consider it, to say the least, useless to at- 

 tempt to obtain these productions by artificial means. Such an idea, which 

 is equivalent to the negation of science, is as absurd as the fatalism 

 of the Orientals, who leave to Providence the care of all things, and so 

 excuse their own idleness and carelessness. We do not hesitate to say, 

 that it shows great want of a just appreciation of the mission of human- 

 ity thus to limit its intelligence and powers of investigation. 



The exploration of the domain of the sea gains in public opinion every 

 day. The people of the coast instinctively feel that the sea is destined 

 to be to them a most fruitful source of prosperity, and to deliver them 

 from the miserable condition which has for a long time been their por 

 tion. In a few years, thanks to the light of science, profitable fisheries 

 will be established upon the coast, among which ostriculture will cer- 

 tainly be the most fruitful. While, on the one hand, by means of intel- 

 ligent regulation, based upon careful study of locality, myriads of young 

 fish will be protected from wanton destruction by ignorant fisher- 

 men, on the other measures will be taken to raise in reservoirs such 

 as can bear the regimen. Shell-fisheries will also be developed wherever 

 they can be established with success. The populace, attracted to the 

 coast by the hope of a better livelihood, will become acquainted with 

 the sea ; will learn to consider it the source of many blessings ; and 

 will finally greatly augment the elements of our maritime power. 



P. DE BROOA, 

 Lieutenant, and Director of the Port of Havre. 



CHAPTER SECOND. 



OYSTERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Naturalists divide the oysters of the eastern shores of North America 

 into three species, namely : the oyster of Virginia, (Ostrea virginiana); 

 the northern oyster, {Ostrea borealis); the Canadian oyster, {Ostrea 

 canadensis). Notwithstanding this classification, based upon details 

 of form, which in fact vary considerably, the mollusks in question, 



