138 THE OYSTER. 



mind that the lands upon which it is carried on are 

 nearly valueless, and unsuited to any other sort of 

 cultivation. 



" The price of a hundred oysters of the Marennes 

 variety varies from i^^ to 6 francs. Let us then 

 adopt the price of 3 francs, which is less than a mean, 

 as the average price per hundred. Upon a square 

 yard of surface in a claire we can raise from 60 to 80 

 oysters, and if we take the minimum at 50 it will give 

 us, upon about 2]/^ acres, 500,000 oysters, which in 

 about five years (average time of growth) would be 

 worth at 3 francs per hundred the sum of at least 

 15,000 francs, making a yearly revenue of 3000 francs 

 or ;^6oo. In 1863, on the island of Re, a sailor named 

 Moreau sold the first gathering from his park, which 

 contained only 500 square meters, for 1300 francs, 

 making the revenue 26,000 francs per hectare, or 

 ;^2i8o per acre. Admitting what is evidently above 

 the truth, that the expense of labor, repairs, super- 

 vision, etc., absorbs three-fifths of this revenue, then 

 the net profits would be 1200 francs per hectare, or 

 for the five years 6000 francs or ^1200. But these 

 calculations are based, as will be recognized, upon 

 mean numbers, which are probably lower than facts 

 would demand. It will readily be seen, then, that in 

 five years a landed property of the value of at least 

 ;^48o per year to each acre can be established upon 

 lands which before were unproductive and of no value. 

 I think it can be said, without danger of exaggeration, 

 that there are few, if any, rural occupations which in 

 so short a time will give equal results." 



The culture of oysters in the deeper waters of the bay. 



