714 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [42] 



The fishiug terminated, they stake out the square space over which it 

 has taken place, in the first place in order not to expose it to being 

 fished a second time, and in the second place to be able at a later period 

 to cover it with shells of cockles and oysters, which are the natural col- 

 h^ctors employed by them in order to maintain in these localities con- 

 tinued fertility. 



The duration of the fishing in certain jjortions of these crassats does 

 not exceed two hours or two hours and a half each spring tide; but as 

 they employ 40 or 50 persons for this work the result is about 60,000 

 oysters for the day. 



When the tide has driven off the workmen, each sqnad, by means of 

 the tillole with which it is provided, goes to the ship Le Travailleur, 

 which is the headquarters of the exploitation. The collections of the 

 day are poured upon long tables, and the women proceed then to the 

 singling and sorting of the oysters. They have such skill at this work 

 and their eye is so well trained that they rarely have occasion to make 

 use of measures in order to classify the shells by their difference in size. 

 This operation completed the oysters are sent to the different pares, to 

 Lahillon in order to grow, to Crastorbe in order to fatten and to be put 

 in condition for market. 



Lahillon. — The pares of Lahillon are ancient oyster beds, from 

 which they removed the grass in order to transform them into propa- 

 gating claires {claires de pousse). Amid the marine grasses the growth 

 of the oyster is less rapid than on the bare soil. A square space has, 

 however, been left in its natural condition, and such is the quality of 

 the ground of Lahillon that the oyster grows more quickly there than 

 in the beds of Le Chs. The mean diameter of oysters fifteen months 

 old is from 2 to 4 centimeters. 



The claires measure 45 meters in length by 6 in breadth and have a 

 depth of 30 centimeters. They are separated from each other by em- 

 bankments 1 to 2 meters wide, formed by clods of clay, such as is found 

 in the He des Oiseaux, and sustained bj' tiles placed on end. 



One hundred thousand oysters may be planted in each of these claires. 

 The subjects which are handled here are small oysters culled from the 

 crassatSj which must attain a larger growth before being fattened, and 

 the spat obtained from the tiles, which, however, is only introduced 

 after having remained in the nursing frames till about the month of 

 April, and after the very dangerous tides that occur about the time of the 

 vernal equinox are over. 



The native oysters, which have undergone arrest of development, are 

 placed in claires reserved for the purpose. In a short while in their 

 new home they recover their normal rate of growth and gain in six 

 months an increase of from 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter. 



As it is essential not to lose an inch of this valuable exploitable 

 ground, the shores west of the crassat of Lahillon are used as open pares, 

 but, in order to facilitate access to the claires behind, spaces hav*e been 

 left at intervals of 20 meters, by which the boats may reach the water. 



