OYSTER AND MUSSEL REPORT. 71 
in Scotland than in France. Then it is said that our 
colder seas do not favour so abundant a deposit of spat, 
and do not yield such abundant nourishment to the 
growing mussels as do those of the south. This I think 
has still to be proved. The spat deposited on some of 
our beds and other parts of the shore in our own district 
and on any submarine objects in any way resembling 
bouchots, such as pieces of wreckage, stakes, piers, stems 
of large seaweeds, &c., is most abundant, indicating that 
there is no want of the free-swimming embryos prepared 
to settle down upon any suitable foundation; and in 
regard to the nourishment of the adult it seems to me 
that our mussels are quite as large and well formed in 
every way as those I saw in France. I therefore see no 
reason from the biological poimt of view why the bouchot 
system of mussel culture should not be a success in our 
district, but it is quite possible that it might not be worth 
while, financially, to start 1t except in places where from 
local conditions it is impossible or difficult to grow the 
mussels in beds. ; 
LEs SABLES D’OLONNE. 
Les Sables is a favourite seaside resort, and centre of 
oyster culture, situated close to Pointe de |’ Aiguille about 
halfway between the mouth of the Gironde and that of 
the Loire. It is in an exposed situation, but behind the 
harbour there is a large artificial lake which reminds one 
of the basin at Arcachon, although it 1s of course much 
smaller (about 160 acres), and has well-built sloping 
walls round its edge. A considerable part of this 
area of shallow sea-water is devoted to oyster culture, 
and is divided off into parcs, which however are only for 
élevage, the young oysters being brought from Arcachon 
or Auray in Brittany. The bottom of the paves is rather 
