25 



the cases beino- given out to be tarred on contract. As 

 soon as examination of adult oysters shows that spawn- 

 ing will take place before long, the clean limed tiles are 

 transported to the parks. Flat bottomed barges spe- 

 cially built for this purpose are employed by the more 

 prosperous cultivators, but the majority are content to 

 use the little boats (pinasses) they use in fishing and 

 ferryage to and from the parks. With the great deve- 

 lopment of motor boats that has taken place since 1906, 

 those who can afford such, employ a motor pinasse as a 

 tuQ-, and a strino- of small boats laden with limed tiles in 

 tow of a palpitating motor-launch is an every day sight 

 during June and July. Then ensues a busy time in the 

 placing in position and securing of the ruches, crate-like 

 cases into which when ready the limed tiles are packed. 

 This work is finished in normal years by the middle of 

 July — often indeed by the end of June. From then till 

 the month of October the women and older girls of the 

 family are capable of tending the daily well-being of the 

 oysters in stock, re-spreading and raking and cleaning 

 up generally. If need be the men in their spare time do 

 any needful repairs to the protective devices employed 

 in the park against enemies, fishes chiefly. 



Towards the end of September and during the month 

 of October a considerable amount of attention is given 

 by careful cultivators to the cleaning of the spat-covered 

 tiles ; they gently brush the brood oysters, now about 

 3 months old, to detach any living growths — seaw r eeds, 

 ascidians, sponges and the like. 



During winter the routine work of cleaning and 

 raking goes on in fine weather together with the trans- 

 port ashore and preparation of such fully grown oysters 

 as may be disposed of. 



Detroquage, the harvesting of the brood crop, 

 takes place in the early part of the year. This is 

 separation of the brood oysters from the tiles and is 

 carried out during the first favourable spell of fine 

 weather when the growth of the young oysters is seen 

 to have progressed sufficiently. Under very favourable 

 4 



