[47] OYSTER-CULTURE UPON SHORES OF BRITISH CHANNEL. 719 



ducts during the seasou of 1873-74 rose to 42,542,650 oysters of 5 cen- 

 timeters in diameter; during that of 1874-'75, to 112,705,233 oysters of 

 the same dimensions; and during that of 1875-'76, to 196,885,450. The 

 value of the oysters sold in I875-'7G was 3,941,309 francs. 



I have now arrived at the end of my work. I have doubtless some- 

 times forgotten to notice establishments well worthy of interest, and 

 localities where, as at Treguier and at Paimpol, the oyster-cultural in- 

 dustry is prosperous, without, however, offering to the observer any 

 new facts to study or any useful indications to report. I would not 

 say more, but I do not wish to close without referring to the realization 

 this year of the fruitful idea which the department of the marine, always 

 in quest of wise progress, has steadily pursued — the idea of the trans- 

 formation of the salt marshes into claires for the growth of the oyster. 

 If, Monsieur the Minister, the attempts that your administration has so 

 happily undertaken at Croisic have an issue definitely favorable — and 

 the success of this first season causes me to hope for it — a new and 

 brilliant future is reserved for oyster culture. 



The conversion of salt marshes into oyster establishments will, in 

 fact, insure a large outlet to that excess of i)roduction which em- 

 barrasses each year the oysterculturists of Arcachon and of Bretagne. 



It will be a beneficence, moreover, which our western population will 

 owe to the marine, which has already done, so much for them ; and our 

 whole country will find some profit, when these marshes which the salt 

 industry has abandoned recover in a new way their ancient prosperity. 



Permit me. Monsieur the Minister, before closing this rej)ort, to address 

 my grateful thanks to M^I. the commissaries and agents of the marine, 

 with whom I have been brought into intercourse. I owe this public 

 testimony of having always found in them the most zealous desire to 

 facilitate my task, joined to that refined courtesy of which the marine 

 has preserved the tradition. 



With the expression of my gratitude, be pleased. Monsieur the Minis- 

 ter, to accept, etc. 



Paris, December 29, 1876. 



