[19] OYSTER-CULTURE UPON SHORES OF BRITISH CHANNEL. 691 



sea- weed, the presence of which exerts an injurious influence upon re- 

 production. 



However, every disaster has its compensations. The same conditions; 



which covered the bottom with sea- weeds established beds of broken 



coral in t'^e vicinity of the old beds. Subsequently youug oysters were- 



found attached to the branching stems of coral brought up from the- 



■ bottom. 



This fact is full of promise, either for the restoration of the old beds- 

 or the establishment of new oues. We should not forget that the super- 

 vision of the oyster beds is very difficult in this little sea. The road- 

 stead of Brest has not less than forty miles of coast line. This is broken; 

 by numerous creeks, in which the marauders, signaled by their con- 

 federates who are on the watch, find refuge from the pursuit of the fish- 

 ery guard. Being provided with boats of very light draft, and pos- 

 sessing a perfect knowledge of all the creeks and coves, they quickly,- 

 take refuge where the government vessels cannot follow them. 



The administration of the marine has exerted all its influence to per- 

 suade them that to fish without restraint is to destroy the harvest that 

 the future would yield, but the facilities offered by the railroads for the. 

 quick sale of the fruits of these marauding expeditions have caused) 

 these wise counsels to be disregarded. The measures of coercion em- 

 ployed to repress their rapacity have likewise proved ineffectual. Suck 

 was the condition of things a few years ago ; at present it is a little bet- 

 ter. Moreover, the number of marauders is not so large, for they do> 

 not now find in the pursuit of their unlawful industry the means of 

 subsistence. 



As regards oyster-culture, the roadstead would seem to lend itself in 

 a marvelous way to the operations for which this industry gives occa- 

 sion. Yet the sea is very rough during the stormy season, and swiffc 

 currents traverse it in every direction. We recall, too, the unfortunate^ 

 experiments made by M. Coste in 1857. Since that time no one has 

 sought to bring into cultivation this splendid expanse of water which 

 apparently is so tranquil. 



In 1874, M. Thomas, an engineer, a man of strong convictions, and 

 imbued with novel ideas in regard to collecting the spawn in deep water,^, 

 and in regard to the development, growth, and parquage of the oyster., 

 obtained from the Minister of the Marine the grant called Le Moulin- 

 Blanc. This part of the bay receives a small stream of fresh water,, 

 which may be utilized with advantage. M. Thomas established pares- 

 and stocked them with oysters. The experiments undertaken were 

 based upon views peculiar to him. They are still too recent for us tC' 

 form an estimate of their result. Up to the present time the experi- 

 menter has worked at it rather as a scientific question than a business 

 enterprise. He has studied the roadstead of Brest, its waters, their 

 usual temperature, the winds that ordinarily blow, and the direction of 

 the currents; every influence, favorable or otherwise, which may affect 



