[3] OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 727 



that it may grow rapidly, and, so far as can be, be sheltered from the 

 attacks of its natural enemies. Then comes the fattening, that is, the 

 investing the oyster with those physical conditions which render it a 

 luxury for the table. * 



I must now examine in succession the most important centers of pro 

 duction and rearing. 



The two districts in France in which production is attended to on a 

 large scale are : 1. Arcachon; 2. Le Morbihan. 



BASIN OF ARCACHON. 



In 1863, the industry of oyster-culture did not exist in this basin. At 

 this epoch, in fact, one of our most distinguished pisciculturists, M. 

 Chabot Karlen, imblished a report upon this part of France. From 

 this interesting work it will be seen that the production of oysters was 

 absolutely neglected in the basin. It is right to add that at that time 

 M. Chabot foresaw the possibility of rearing oysters "in the wide water 

 on the Crassats." 



Oysters, however, existed in a natural state in this basin. Here, nev- 

 ertheless, as everywhere, ignorance and want of foresight had produced 

 bad results. The natural beds were silted up with mud, and the oysters 

 were rapidly disappearing. 



Under these circumstance it was that M. Coste resolved upon the es- 

 tablishment of some model pares in this district. Three spots were 

 selected on the surface of the basin, and here the success was complete. 

 Thus one of the new pares, that of Lahillon, 4 hectares in extent, furnished 

 in 1866 more than 5,000,000 of oysters. Kow when the operations were 

 commenced in 1863 on this spot, there was nothing but mud. After 

 cleaning the ground, 400,000 oysters were laid down in 1865, and, as I 

 have just observed, the return the following year exceeded 5,000,000. 



Such examples were well calculated to make impressions upon the 

 coast population; in consequence, applications for concessions began at 

 once to multiply, and, as I shall presently show, continued to increase. 



Some years later the state, perceiving that its example had failed, con- 

 ceded its model pares to the central society of shipwrecked mariners ; 

 but a certain extent of oyster beds was reserved, and serves to supply 

 with spat the surrounding concessions. 



The beds so reserved occupy an area of 200 hectares; no fishing is 

 permitted except at intervals of about three years, nor unless a commis- 

 sion representing the fishermen and the cultivators has expressed itself 

 favorable to the fishing. 



The marine administration takes great interest in this reserve. Every 

 year 240 metres eubes of small shells are thrown on the surface of these 

 pares, and form in this way natural collections. At the time of the last 

 fishing (1879) this reserve had furnished 25,000,000 of oysters, represent- 

 ing a value of about 250,000 francs. In the month of April, 1881, when 



