728 REPORT or COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[4] 



I had tbe opportunity of visiting these beds, they were covered with 

 fine oysters, and appeared to me to be in excellent condition. 



The collectors used at Arcachon consist almost exclusively of tiles 

 previously limed and disposed in hives. 



About 10,000,000 of tiles are laid down every year; tbe most favor- 

 able moment for tbe operation appears to be from the 12tb to the loth of 

 June. The hives remain in position until the month of October; some 

 cultivators, bowevcr, allow the collectors to remain all the winter in the 

 basin. This i)ractice is attended with danger, as the spat may be de- 

 stroyed by the frosts. Anyhow the young oysters are placed either m 

 the claires or in the boxes. The claires of Arcachon have been too often 

 described to make it necessary for me to do so now. 



I shall, however, call to recollection that their depth varies according 

 as they may be intended to receive the spat when detached, or the tiles 

 to which the young oysters are still adhering. As a fact, a certain num- 

 ber of cultivators allow for some time the spat to develop itself on the 

 tiles themselves. 



The use of boxes is general at Arcachon. Still, as these engines are 

 somewhat expensive, some cultivators have for economical reasons given 

 up their use. On the other hand, some establishments jwssess a con- 

 siderable number. In Ai)ril last, for instance, 4,000 of these might be 

 seen in one pare alone. 



Tbe present occasion does not seem fitting for entering into the de- 

 tails of the working arrangements. I desire solely to bring under your 

 notice the i)roof of the importance of oyster culture in this i)art of France. 



The following figures, for which I am indebted to the extreme courtesy 

 of M. Lhopital, commissary of marine, are in this point of view specially 

 interesting: 



Jidsume of oyster operations in the basin of Arcachon. 



