418 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



equal to this enterprise, tlie Governmeut lias come to their assistance 

 for the construction of the projier vessels. At several points, and 

 notably at Croisie, a large number of fishermen have vessels of 20 to 

 25 tons, with which they explore the deeper sea. The past year, how- 

 ever, the fish again approached the shores, enabling the small boats to 

 make considerable capture and of large size. 



As a whole, the sardine-fisheries for 1882 were excellent; 512,000,000 

 sardines were caught, selling for $3,088,000, an increase of considerably 

 over a million dollars from 1881. It is said, however, that no dependence 

 can be placed upon the continuance of such good luck, and boats of 

 proper and sufficient capacity must be built to explore the open sea. 



Coasting fishing was not less prosperous for other varieties. Over 

 119,000,000 pounds of varied sorts of fish, valued at $7,500,000, were 

 taken. In fact, it is this product which furnishes the general markets 

 and supplies the jiopular demand. 



ARTIFICIAL OYSTER BEDS. 



Special mention must be made of oysters, the commerce in which, re- 

 ferred to in my report before mentioned, has continued to largely in- 

 crease. In 1881, though tbe yield was greater (374,985,770 oysters), the 

 price obtained was but $397,918, whereas with tbe product last year 

 of only 155,701,399 the sum of $144,514 was realized. 



The industry of artificial rearing of oysters continues prosperous. 

 The parks produce largely and yield good profits. The quarter of Teste 

 alone furnished for consumption from the 1st Septemper, 1881, to the 

 15th June, 1882, upwards of 268,000,000 oysters reared in these beds. 



The total shell-fish product of 1882 amounted to 372,841,830, bringing 

 $310,471. It will be seen that it is the artificial culture which almost 

 exclusively supplies the market. 



There are, at present 45,464 oyster parks in France, established on 

 public lands, and paying the Government a trifling rental. These 

 parks, or beds, occupy over 46,000 persons, of whom 16,317 are seamen 

 exempt from taxation. They cover an area of over 29,000 acres, and 

 every year an average of 725 acres are developed. It is an industry 

 which requires little capital, and, iiroperly understood, yields regular 

 and certain profit. 



2.— Fisheries op Algeria. 



The foregoing remarks relate to France, properly speaking. Her 

 colonies, and particularly Algeria, should not be overlooked in taking 

 account of her fisheries. For the first time, this year the Government 

 has made a report on the Algerian fisheries, from which I deem it of 

 interest to present tlie following interesting features : 



Of fishermen, 4,916, mounting 1,044 boats, were engaged in the Alge- 

 rian fisheries in 1882. The value of the fish caught amounted to 

 $784,148, consisting principally of mackerel, thon, allaches, sardines, 



