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still given to naval reservists as they or the widows of 

 such men have the first claim on any oyster ground 

 that may be abandoned or on any area hitherto un- 

 occupied. Only in default of an application from a 

 reservist or a reservist's widow may any outsider obtain 

 a concession — even then, naval and military pensioners 

 have preference, and after then civil pensioners, and 

 non-pensioned soldiers and officials ; those outside these 

 categories come last and even then, it is laid down 

 that preference shall be given to those whose past 

 conduct promises best for the management of the con- 

 cession. 



As is usual in State matters in France a great 

 number of formalities have to be gone through when 

 applying for a concession. In actuality no unreasonable 

 difficulties appear to be placed in the way of applicants ; 

 the administration is paternal, if formal ; indeed I believe 

 the authorities ignore the provisions of many of the 

 older laws which deal with oyster fishing and which 

 were made before the development of oyster culture was 

 dreamed of, for if enforced these would be the occasion 

 of much hardship and loss to the concessionaires. Such 

 laws as are out of date should of course be abrogated or 

 amended ; the license holders should not be at the mercy 

 of official benevolence and be liable at law to severe 

 pains and penalties for acts which are not offences under 

 the changed conditions which now prevail. Some day 

 no doubt the many laws relating to oyster fishery and 

 culture will be consolidated and brought up to date ; 

 meanwhile the local officials who understand what is 

 justifiable and what is not in the conduct of oyster parks 

 enforce what regulations they think should be upheld and 

 forget the existence of the others — an anomalous posi- 

 tion for the administration ; La Gironde however is a 

 department where the people are endowed with more 

 than the average of sober common-sense — witness their 

 action in the Great Revolution — and the discrepancy 

 between the precept and the practice of the law disturbs 

 no one but the critical jurist. 



