BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 97 



Vol. IV, Wo. 7. Washington, ». C April 17, 1884. 



46.— REPORT OIV THE CONDITIOIV OF OVSTER-CVLTURE IIV 



FRAIVCE IIV tSSl. 



By DR. P. BISOCCIII. 



Tbe Ibllowiug explanatory remarks were prefaced to the copy of Dr. 

 Broccbi's report printed in the Journal Officiel: * 



" In response to a reqnest long since made by the oyster-culturists of 

 the Bretagne region, and to the wish expressed by the senatorial com- 

 mission on the replenishing of the waters, the minister of agricultnre 

 and commerce, following ont a decision dated the 30th of Jnne last, has 

 established a course in oyster and fish culture, in the laboratory founded 

 by Coste at Concarneau (Finistere). This course, which was intrusted 

 to M. Brocchi, lecturer on zoology at the ifational Institute of Theoretic 

 Agriculture {Institute National Agronomique), began September 5, and 

 has continued a month. 



"Independently of the oral instruction, M. Brocchi is charged with 

 the making of researches throwing light upon the important questions 

 treated of in his course. He now addresses to the minister of agri- 

 culture and commerce his first report uj^on his observations regarding 

 the present state of oyster-culture." 



The preparation of the course of lectures on oyster-culture has led me 

 to visit the principal oyster- cultural centers of France. It seems highly 

 proper to render an account of what it has been given me to observe 

 during this exploration and to present the actual state of oyster-culture 

 in our country. 



OKIGIN OF OYSTER-CULTURE IN FRANCE. 



This industry, so new and so essentially French, has made rapid pro- 

 gress. It is not hei'e necessary to give the history of o^^ster- culture. 

 Its origin, however, is of recent date. Indeed, it was only after the 

 publications and the efforts of M. Coste (185G-1858) that the attention 

 of the inhabitants of our coasts was drawn to the jjossibility of raising- 

 oysters artificially. These experiments, to which the state had dedi- 

 cated considerable sums, led to many others. M. Coste, with an en- 

 thusiasm which was perhaps excessive, but which, after all, produced 

 happy results, then declared that this industry would become a new 

 source of wealth to France. The attemjjts made simultaneously in the 

 ocean and in the Mediterranean for the most part failed. However, 

 and it has been too much forgotten, the experiment tried in Arcachou 

 Bay was crowned Avith success. From that time the start was given 

 and the oyster-cultural industry made rapid progress. 



''Journal Officiel de la Republique FranQaise, Norembre 8j 1881, pp. 6181-6186. 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 7 



