BOUCHOT SYSTEM OF CULTURE 71 



in the spaces of the branches which are used as 

 wattle-work. 



The young mussels soon attach themselves to 

 the bouchot, and the netting is allowed to rot and 

 fall off. The bouchots, in this way, soon become 

 dense walls of black mussels. When it is neces- 

 sary to thin them, or to make room for another 

 brood, a second transplanting takes place. This 

 work goes on from one section to the other, the 

 mussels approaching nearer and nearer to the 

 shore ; at one time exposed at low water neaps, 

 and at last brought close to the high-water mark. 

 When the mussels are large enough the netting is 

 dispensed with, and they are individually pushed 

 into the spaces of the wattle. The work has to 

 be carried on during low tide, and is practised 

 day and night. In little more than a year the 

 mussels are considered ready for market, being 

 about an inch and a half long. They are seldom 

 reared to a greater size than 2 inches. The 

 mussels, from being, in the course of their steps 

 nearer and nearer to shore, left for an increasing 

 length of time uncovered by the sea, become 

 inured to exposure, and are found to travel 

 better and remain fresher for a longer period. 



These mussels are used for food, and are sold 



