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Around the area to be converted into a claire a shallow 

 trench 6 to 8 inches wide is dug. Into this are packed 

 quantities of short sticks {brandes), 18 inches long, 

 disposed vertically in such manner that the greater 

 portion of their length projects from the ground level to 

 form a low and broad border about one foot in height 

 and some 5 to 7 inches wide. The soil is packed in 

 tightly on either side of this palisade border and when 

 the interstices are filled up with clay a low bund has 

 been formed capable of holding up a depth of 8 to 10 

 inches of water when the tide recedes, so long as the 

 walls remain in good order. The construction of these 

 latter-day claires whose bunds remind one of the closely 

 trimmed boxwood borders of old English gardens entails 

 little further expense than the cost of levelling the 

 surface and of spreading a thin layer of fine sand and 

 gravel when considered necessary as a means to con- 

 solidate the surface if it be muddy. This form of claire 

 is found quite satisfactory and in a land where pine 

 forests are extensive no cheaper method could be 

 devised. The tendency to-day is to dispense with walled 

 claires of even the cheapest description. Partly this is 

 due to experience showing that in the mild and favour- 

 able conditions prevailing at Arcachon there is no very 

 great advantage, save in particular localities, of troubling 

 to keep the oysters continually covered with water, and 

 partly, I am strongly inclined to believe, because a 

 continuance of many years cultivation has very greatly 

 improved the natural surface of the parks. Of recent 

 years culture at Arcachon tends strongly towards 

 simplification of methods ; the number of rearing cases 

 are reduced to a minimum and the great majority of 

 parkers content themselves with scattering the young 

 oysters over the smoothest and most protected section 

 of their ground, there to develop without other protection 

 than is afforded by a tall palisade of stakes primarily 

 intended to exclude predatory fishes. 



Whenever the tides serve, the oysters thus scattered 

 over the surface of the park receive attention. Sea-weeds 



