THE MUSSEL. 215 
posts, placed in deep water for its reception. These posts are only 
exposed at the spring tides. In fourteen months it has increased 
from the size of a pin’s head to that of a bean, and is now ina 
condition to bear removal. Agglomerated masses of the young 
bivalves are taken off from the posts by hooks, and are placed 
on the lowest parts of some of the palisades, which are never 
uncovered by the water; here they grow, and when they have 
attained to a certain size, they are advanced to a higher bouchot. 
Four times they are thus removed, and in twelve months they are 
ready for the market. 
The Bay of Aiguillon is the scene of a vast industry, a wonder- 
ful monument to the genius of one man. Thousands of people are 
employed in the culture and transportation of the mussels. Some 
idea of the enormous produce of the bay may be gathered from the 
fact, that although they are sold at the rate of about ten pounds a 
penny, yet the revenue of the whole bay is more than £400,000 ; 
and why should not a like harvest be gathered in on every coast ? 
