706 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [34] 



M. Depeiix-Boyer, an experienced oyster-ciilturist, has observed in 

 common with the parqueurs of Les Sables d'Oleron, that the less water 

 there is in the pares the better the oysters seem to do. 



The bottom is a clayey loam, the surface of which is covered by a 

 layer of mud from 20 to 30 centimeters in thickness, but of sufficient 

 firmness to prevent the shells from sinking in it. The claires of Mart- 

 tray, which are cleaned only once or twice a year, are appropriated to the 

 rearing and fatteuing of the oyster. 



The oysters handled there are either brought from Arcachou or are 

 obtained from the pares of reproduction which M. Dupeux-Boyer pos- 

 sesses in another part of the island, at the place called La Mouliuatte, or 

 in many cases they are collected along the shore, by the foot-fishermen 

 (pecheursapied). Although for many years the oyster beds of the vicinity 

 have been exhausted, there still exist isolated oysters, the spawn of 

 •which catches either upon the rocks or the pebbles that the waves roll 

 upon the beach. The oystermen call them native or vagabond oysters. 

 The shell is coarse, but regular and deep. 



In the pares of reproduction, where it would be impossible, on account 

 of the violence of the sea, to employ the usual forms of collectors, the 

 spawn is allowed to catch upon the shingle of the beach. The detach- 

 ing of the young oysters is consequently an operation of some difficulty. 



Two or three years are necessary to prepare the oysters brought from 

 Arcachon for the market, in the claires of Martray. The native oysters 

 are less liable to mortality; they grow more in the same period of time; 

 the shell becomes deeper and the animal larger. 



The pares of Martray, like those at Marenues, have the property of 

 greening the oyster. Some individuals, however, in the claires of the 

 Isle de K^, never assume the green coloration, which in most cases 

 manifests itself about the time of the September equinox. 



Isle d'Oleron. — Ol^ron, which may be regarded as an appendage 

 of Marennes, engages in the rearing and fattening of the oyster and in 

 its reproduction. In 1873 the season was bad; the spawn did not catch 

 upon the collectors, and the discouraged planters {Sleveurs=hreedeT8) 

 abandoned their pares. 



The administration of the marine intervened to prevent total ruin. 

 It established model pares and brought from Arcachon 250,000 breed- 

 ing oysters and placed them in " la Courant.^^ It endeavored by every 

 means to restore the courage of the parqueurs, who had given way to 

 unwarranted apprehensions. The counsel of the administration of the 

 marine was heeded. The pares, which had been invaded by mud and 

 the mussels, were soon restored to good condition. Since then the culti- 

 vation of the oyster has succeeded so well that no one thinks now of 

 abandoning oyster- culture. 



In 1875 the parqueurs of Arcachon established themselves in the 

 island of 016ron, and the quantity of oysters they brought with them 

 was so large that the collectors were covered with spat. The same 



