€98 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26] 



■establisliment occupies au area of forty-five hectares in the haven of 

 the Bren^guy. 



Lying in an indentation of the shore, and separated from the sea on 

 the west by a natural embankment not subject to overflow, it communi- 

 cates with the ocean through the bay {anse) of Kerlud. Another em- 

 bankment, 145 meters long, built of earth and masonry, and provided 

 with two sluice-gates, closes in the basin on this side, protects it from the 

 storms, and maintains the level of the Bren^guy at high-water mark. 

 This vast pond contains 900,000 cubic meters of water, and its depth 

 varies from one to three meters. 



The sluice gates are only opened during the spring tides, cousequently 

 the waters are renewed but twice in a month. The winds, which blow 

 without ceasing upon the coast of Morbihan, effect the aeration of the 

 water and prevent it from becoming impure. The soil is granitic. In 

 some parts a thin layer of mud covers the bottom. 



It is hardly necessary to state that tlie oysters grown in this esidblish- 

 ment, commenced only two years ago, are obtained either at Auray or 

 La Trinity. The fry are placed in metal trays supported in frames of 

 wood, and the larger individuals, which are not liable to be destroyed 

 by the crabs, are spread over the bottom. The oyster grows very 

 rapidly in the basin of the Breneguy, acquiring qualities like those which 

 •characterize the products of Belon. 



As at B^lon, also, the dredged oysters, when cultivated, quickly 

 change their form and assume better proportions. 



M. d'Argy proposes to perfect his establishment, already so complete 

 in its details, by attempts at reproduction upon a grand scale. My con- 

 viction is that this establishment, which at the present time is prepared 

 to deliver several million oysters to consumption, is destined to great 

 development in the future. 



Among the difterent establishments upon the river La Trinite, I would 

 direct special attention to that of Doctor Gressy, to whom we owe 

 various improvements iutroduced in the methods of cultivation. 



The island of Cuban, upon which the establishment is situated, con- 

 tains basins excavated in the solid rock, and in which, in consequence 

 of their elevation, the water is renewed only twice in seven days. In 

 these basins M. Gressy has experimented with the object of effecting 

 the greening of the oyster. The end desired has been obtained, 

 but in transportation the oysters lose to some extent the color which is 

 characteristic of the oysters of Marennes. 



The methods pursued in the cultivation of the oyster are very nearly 

 the same at La Trinity as at Auray. Nevertheless, some cultivators 

 upon the river Orach find it preferable to detach the young oysters 

 from the collectors at the beginning of winter. They give as a reason 

 for this premature detaching, that the fry grow much more rapidly in 

 La Trinite, and the shells are at this period strong enough to bear the 

 operation without injury. 



