CHAPTER IV 



THE FRENCH BOUCHOT SYSTEM OF CULTURE 



The story of the commencement of the boiicJiot 

 system of mussel cultivation has already been 

 published, but may be retold in a few words. 



In 1035 ^ (Quatrefages, Souvenirs d'un Natural- 

 iste ] Paris, 1854) an Irish barque was wrecked in 

 the Bay of Aiguillon, near the village of Esnandes. 

 One man, named Walton, survived. He was 

 kindly received by the French fishermen, and 

 lived amongst them for many years. In addition 

 to introducing an excellent variety of cross-bred 

 sheep to the district, by means of the surviving 

 live stock of his ill-fated ship, this man erected 

 traps for the capture of sea-birds and duck, 

 which frequented the mud-flats of the bay at 

 night. Noticing that the piles supporting his 

 nets became coated with mussels, and that these 



^ Stated as 1135 by Beitra.m, Jlarz'es^ of the Sea, p. 410; 

 London, 1865. 



