THE OYSTER. 207 
experimented as to the best material for forming artificial banks. 
The laying down of tiles and sundry déris cost £114, and now 
the farms are estimated to be worth £8,000. The grounds, which 
are covered by the oysters, are exposed at low water; this is a 
great advantage, for the progress of the farm can be accurately 
watched, and in collecting the oysters only the full-grown ones 
need be gathered. Four years ago it was estimated that in the 
Bay of Arcachon there were more than 5,000,000 oysters, and 
OYSTERS ABOUT TEN MONTHS OLD UPON A TILE COVERED WITH CEMENT. 
these were worth £8,000; which, leaving a wide margin, shows a 
profit of £4,000 on the outlay. 
In the Island of Ré, which originally was surrounded by 
muddy flats, oyster farming is in full operation. Thousands of 
men came from the country and took possession of the sterile 
shores, and in two years they transformed them into rich domains. 
1,500 parks are now in active operation, and 2,000 more are in 
course of construction; these establishments will soon encircle 
the whole: island. Fragments of rocks are strewed over the flats, 
and upon these the oysters are developed with wonderful rapidity 
