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that the freight on oysters from Arcachon to Bordeaux, 

 a distance of 35 miles, is Rs. 8 per ton, an exceedingly 

 heavy rate. The best argument for a great lowering of 

 the rates lies in the practical certainty that with fair 

 organization of the trade such rates would eventuate in 

 largely increased exports from Arcachon by rail. But in 

 spite of a supposed penchant for political revolution, the 

 French peasant-proprietors — to whom the Arcachon 

 oyster culturists belong — are among the most conservative 

 of people. 



In connection with this matter of co-operation, it is 

 noteworthy to observe that no mutual or other insurance 

 Associations exist to ensure the members against extra- 

 ordinary losses, although such exist among the sea- 

 fishermen of the district. 



Apart however from the potential good effects of 

 co-operation and organization among the producers upon 

 the Arcachon oyster trade, the stress of past years has 

 been engaged automatically in gradually improving 

 matters. The worst of the parks are passing out of 

 cultivation, and with a large diminution in the area of 

 the parks, overproduction is becoming less marked. At 

 the most critical moment, when many parkers were 

 feeling the pinch of bad trade most keenly, the rising 

 sardine fishery with its promise of large profits called for 

 numerous volunteers, for men as fishermen and for women 

 as hands in the canning factories. 



With the exercise of patience, restraint, mutual help 

 and reasonable enterprise a fairly bright future should be 

 assured for the Arcachon oyster industry. There is no 

 call for discouragement and there is definite promise of 

 better times ; the signs of improvement are already 

 apparent. Certainly the larger cultivators, the men 

 disposing of ample working capital, are not disheartened 

 and are making good profits as I learned most definitely 

 during my recent visit. From this the holders of small 

 concessions should take example and by co-operation 

 attain the same satisfactory results. 



