[9] OYSTER CULTURE IN FRANCE. 733 



In spite of these unfavorable conditions the production by the rivers 

 of Auray is not unimportant, as the following figures will show : 



Some observations are now necessary. In the first place it is to be 

 remarked that these figures are necessarily below the actual fact. In 

 obtaining them regard must be had to the alleged practice of certain 

 oyster-cultivators of concealing the actual amounts through fear of their 

 patents being raised. The number of oysters exported either froin 

 Brittany or from other centers of oyster- culture is considerably higher 

 than that stated by those interested. 



It must also be remarked that the spat is furnished not merely by the 

 natural beds, but, also by important reserves, which are owned by nu- 

 merous oyster-cultivators. This explains how, in spite of the precari- 

 ous state of the natural beds, the yield of young oysters continues to 

 be abundant. 



The figures which I have the honor to submit to you will further show 

 the sensible increase in oyster production in the basin of Auray. In 

 1876-'77, the number of oysters exported was only 7,260,000. In 1880 

 -'81 it had reached 33,325,000. 



The oyster-cultivators of this district have to contend against a na- 

 tural obstacle — the mud which abounds in the rivers and creeks of Mor- 

 bihan. Thanks to an ingenious disposition of collecting tiles, this 

 obstacle has been surmounted. The collectors if disposed in ^lives 

 would become rapidly covered with mud ; this method has consequently 

 been discarded in fiivor of that which is called the bouquet ov champignon. 



The tiles are pierced with one hole at each extremity, and are joined 

 some 12 or 14 together by means of wire. They are then attached firmly 

 to the head of a stake, 1 m. to 1 m. 50 in length, which can be easily 

 fixed in the ground. 



This system, the first idea of which is due to M. Leroux, has the 

 double advantage of preventing the accumulation of mud on the collec- 

 tors, and of rendering the fixing of these engines easier and more rapid. 

 The time which appears to be the most favorable for laying down the 

 tiles is in Brittany from the 1st to the 20th of July. This date is one 

 month later than that in which, in the basin of Arcachon, this operation 

 is conducted. The difference is easily explained by the difference in 

 temperature at these two points on our sea-coast. 



The use of boxes is not so frequent in Brittany as at Arcachon. For 

 this there are several reasons, the most important of which is the follow- 



