56 
very remarkable. They are long and narrow but stoutly 
built, pointed at both ends and rather like a gondola in 
appearance. They are much easier to row or push along 
than would be thought from their appearance, and they 
can also be used with sails. The lanes of water around 
the parcs are bordered by tall saplings with their twigs 
left on which keep constantly waving in any slight breeze. 
These are called ‘‘pignons,” and they are not only service- 
able as a boundary, but—the oyster men declare—they also 
frighten away the fish and especially the large voracious 
ray, Myliobatis, which might otherwise do great damage 
to the preserves (see Pl. I, figs. 1, 4, and 6). 
Possible depradations of another kind are guarded against 
by the ‘‘pontons”’ or large barges moored at the corners of 
the parcs in which the oyster police (gardes des péches) 
live (see Pl. I, fig. 6). 
Concessions of ground for oyster parcs at Arcachon are 
given by the state at about 30 francs the hectare, which 
comes to be about 10 shillings per acre. The practical 
men I met assured me that the industry was still thoroughly 
successful, and they thought the present year was going 
to be avery goodone. M. Dasté informed me that he had 
already sent 11,000,000 of oysters this year to London. 
He sends out two year olds, measuring 5 to 6 centimetres 
across, at the rate of 12 francs per 1000, and somewhat 
older ones, measuring 6 to 7 cm. across, at 25 frances per 
1000; these prices include packing and carriage as far as 
Bordeaux where they meet the steamer. On an average 
only 1 per cent. of those exported die on the journey. 
He considers from the 15th March to the 15th April the 
best time to.send young oysters for stocking purposes to 
England. Before that it is lable to be too cold in 
England, and later it is too hot in Arcachon for the 
transportation to be effected safely. 
