[41] OYSTER-CULTURE UPON SHORES OF BRITISH CHANNEL. 713 



Although these natural deposits are considered as centers of repro- 

 duction, and as such are under the strict control and supervision of the 

 administration of the marine, yet every year for a few hours the dredg- 

 ing of them is authorized in order to remove the excess of production. 

 In this short space of time vast quantities of oysters are collected and 

 sent to market or laid down in the pares. The oyster from this locality, 

 called also native oyster, or " gravette,''^ is very much sought for. It is 

 distinguished by its peculiar form and its light thin shell from the chan- 

 nel oyster, which is less agreeable to the eye, and has much greater thick- 

 ness of shell, and less delicacy of taste. 



Arcachon possesses over all other oyster- cultural centers this ad- 

 vantage: that the mollusk receives his whole education there. He is 

 born there, grows there, and from there passes directly into the hands 

 of the dealer. 



The study of the Bassin d' Arcachon would require long labor in order 

 to be complete. It would be difficult for me in this summary report to 

 pass in review all the industrial establishments there located. The 

 number of them is too great, and their description would exceed the 

 limit that you have permitted to me, Monsieur the Minister, and it would 

 be fatiguing by its monotony, for iu most of the concessions of the same 

 group there is very little departure from the established methods and 

 processes of the station. To carry out your wishes I have studied more 

 iu detail some of the establishments which have appeared to me to pre- 

 sent most of interest, and which give an exact idea of oyster-culture 

 as practiced at Arcachon. 



Establishment qf the Oyster-Cultural Union. — The Oyster- 

 Cultural Association, at the head of which is placed M. Venot, has under 

 cultivation an area of 42 hectares in the Bassin d'Arcachon, comjjrising, 

 ui)on the one hand, the concessions granted by the administration of the 

 marine to the Central Society for the Assistance of the Shijjwrecked, and, 

 upon the other, some lauds situated near the light-house and the pares of 

 the Jacquets. 



Le Ces is a place of natural reproduction. It consists of II hectares 

 of land exposed at low tide and covered with herbage like a meadow. 

 The soil, although sufficiently Arm, necessitates, nevertheless, the em- 

 ploy ment of large "paftns," the use of which prevents either the break- 

 ing or the burying of the shells in passing over them. They term the 

 oysters which are obtained native oysters, or ^^ gravettes.''^ 



This peculiar jihase of the oyster-fishing is practiced by squads of ten 

 women arranged in single file. Two tile leaders, i)laced at the ends of 

 the line, direct the march. The women, separated from eacii other by 

 an interval of one meter, are each provided with four pouches attached 

 to their belts, in which thay place the oysters as they gather them. 

 Those who follow detach these pouches when they are filled and empty 

 them into baskets. The shells which are concealed from sight are col- 

 lected by the assistance of a small rake, which is drawn over the ground 

 iu the direction in which the grass lies. 



