[31] OYSTER-CULTURE UPON SHORES OF BRITISH CHANNEL. 703 



by means of wooden cross-pieces, in order that the young oysters may 

 not be displaced by the action of the sea. Under the influence of 

 these currents, the fry undergo extraordinary development. For ex- 

 ample, I have seen young oysters removed from the collectors the present 

 season which in the space of three months had increased in dimensions- 

 from 4 to 4J centimeters. 



The "sulky" oysters, which have been obtained by dredging or raised 

 artificially, are not slow under this treatment to take on vigorous growth. 

 During the present season M. Pozzi placed 70,000 of these sulky oysters, 

 in the tail-race of his mill, and by regulating the flow of water subjected 

 them to the action of a swift -flowing current. In forty days these oys- 

 ters, which had a mean diameter of 3 centimeters, had attained the di- 

 mensions of 6 or 7 centimeters. 



The submersible basins, the pare at Kistinic, and those upon the Isle 

 of Lerne, are appropriated to the cultivation of oysters in frames. How- 

 ever, those portions of these last pares, where the current is sluggish^ 

 are reserved for bedding {etandage) ; oysters which have already at- 

 tained a diameter of 4 or 5 centimeters being subjected to this treat- 

 ment. The increase in dimensions of individuals bedded upon the bot- 

 tom is not more than 2 centimeters, but the shell becomes broader and 

 deeper and of better shajje, and the animal, without being fat, com- 

 pletely fills the interior. The fattening of the oysters is not the end 

 sought by M. Pozzi; he has rather aimed to put to profit the excep- 

 tional advantages which his field of exploitation offers for the growing 

 of the oyster. 



The following are the operations of M. Pozzi, and they comprise 

 what in Brittany is technically termed oyster breeding or rearing. For 

 example, the young oysters {naissain) purchased \)y M. Pozzi in March, 

 1876, were spawned at Auray in August of the previous year. In 

 March, 1876, they were removed from the collectors (dctroqiie). In 

 April they were transferred to the Isle of Kistinic, and at once placed 

 in frames. After two months a part were sent to the principal estab> 

 lishment at Ludr6 and placed in the submersible basins. 



The sale of these young oysters took place in the month of Septem- 

 ber of the same year, at which time they had obtained a diameter of 

 from 4 to 6 centimeters. If the purchaser cannot remove them at once,, 

 or if all the stock is not sold, the young oysters are transferred to the 

 storage pares, where they pass the winter. 



The oysters are usually purchased by merchants from the Isle of 

 Olerou, Marennes, and La Tremblade. 



The extensive pares of M. Pozzi permit an annual production of 

 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 oysters. This number will be doubled when the 

 work of converting the salt marshes into pares, which has been under- 

 taken at Ludre, shall be completed. 



Les Sables d'Olonne. — It is only in the last three or four years 

 that oyster-culture has been held in esteem at Les Sables d'Olonne. 



