OUR SEA FISHERIES. 225 



to others extend lines or cords, and from these cords 

 at intervals are suspended faggots, to and within 

 which the spawn of the oyster, when first hatched, 

 can attach and ensconce itself until safe from any 

 outward danger. The use of these faggots and stakes 

 is important, as when the young of the oyster is first 

 hatched, it scatters in all directions, until it finds 

 something to which it can safely attach itself. Mean- 

 time it is the prey of every fish or marine creature 

 that can take it, while vast numbers perish from other 

 circumstances ; and were it not for the fact that each 

 female oyster is said to give forth yearly from one to 

 two millions of young, the stock, under the calls that 

 are made upon it by man, must rapidly diminish. 

 When about three years old the oyster becomes edible. 

 When they wish to obtain oysters at Lake Fusaro, 

 they either break them off the stones with hooks, or 

 pull up the stakes or faggots, and detach such as they 

 require with their hands. This method of fishing, 

 instituted by the ancients, is in practice to the present 

 day ; and the hint has not been lost upon the French, 

 who have imported the plan to Marennes, while a 

 system very similar to that at Commachio has been 

 instituted at the Basin d'Arachon. 1 We have few, if 



1 The following account of what is being done by the French at 

 the He de Re was lately published in the columns of Galignani: — 



q "M, Coste 



