104 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



TRINITY RIVER. 



187G. — Each person took per hour 453 oysters. 

 1877. — Each person took per hour 453 oysters. 

 1878. — Each person took per hour 712 oysters. 

 1879. — Each person took per hour 5G6 oysters. 

 1880. — Each person took per hour 322 oysters. 

 1881. — Each person took per hour 444 oysters. 



We see then, clearly, that the beds are in a state of decadence. It is 

 true that in the Trinity Eiver the average rose somewhat in 1881, but 

 "when one reasons from such slender figures (the total number of oysters 

 dredged in 1881 was only 001,000) averages become less reliable. Some 

 part of the bed, i^erhaps, which had remained unexi)lored during the 

 preceding years, was then fished, and gave a great number of oysters 

 which rapidly raised the average. 



Notwithstanding this bad condition the production of the rivers of 

 Auray is not unimi)ortant, as the following figures show : 



Some observations are necessary at this point. It must be remarked 

 that these figures are unavoidably below the reality. We are obliged 

 to depend for them upon the statements of the oyster-culturists, who, 

 continually fearing an increase of the license tax, are always inclined 

 to conceal the amount of their business. The number of oysters ex- 

 ported, both from Bretagne and from other oyster-cultural centers, is 

 evidently greater than that indicated by the interested parties. It 

 should also be noticed that the spawn is furnished, not only by the 

 natural beds, but also by the important reserves of oysters which are 

 possessed by several oyster-culturists. This exjdains the fact that, not- 

 withstanding the j>recarious state of the natural beds, the crop of young 

 oysters does not cease to be abundant. Consequently, one can see from 

 the figures which I have the honor to lay before you the marked in- 

 crease of oyster production in the basin of Auray. In the season of 

 1876-'77, the number of oysters exported was only 7,200,000. In 18S0-'81, 

 it reached 33,325,000. 



The oyster-culturists of this region have to struggle against a natu- 

 ral obstacle, the mud which abounds in the rivers and inlets of the 

 Morbihan. Owing to the ingenious arrangement of the collecting tiles, 

 they have succeeded in triumphing over this difficulty. The collectors 

 arranged in hives rax)idly become choked with mud, so this arrangement 



