728 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[4] 



I had the opportunity of visiting these beds, they were covered with 

 fine oysters, and appeared to me to be in excellent condition. 



The collectors used at Arcachon consist almost exclusively of tiles 

 previously limed and disposed in hives. 



About 10,000,000 of tiles are laid down every year ; the most favor- 

 able moment for the operation api)ear8 to be from the 113th to the loth of 

 June. The hives remain in position until the month of October; some 

 cultivators, however, allow the collectors to remain all the winter in the 

 basin. This practice is attended with danger, as the spat may be de- 

 stroyed by the frosts. Anyhow the young oysters are placed either m 

 the claires or in the boxes. The claires of Arcachon have been too often 

 described to make it necessary for me to do so now. 



I shall, however, call to recollection that their depth varies according 

 as they may be intended to receive the spat when detached, or the tiles 

 to which the young oysters are still adhering. As a fact, a certain num- 

 ber of cultivators allow for some time the spat to develop itself on the 

 tiles themselves. 



The use of boxes is general at Arcachon. Still, as these engines are 

 somewhat expensive, some cultivators have for economical reasons given 

 up their use. On the other hand, some establishments possess a con- 

 siderable number. In Ai)ril last, for instance, 4,000 of these might be 

 seen in one pare alone. 



Tbe present occasion does not seem fitting for entering into the de- 

 tails of the working arrangements. I desire solely to bring under your 

 notice the i^roof of the importance of oyster culture in this part of France. 



The following flgures, for which I am indebted to the extreme courtesy 

 of M. Lhopital, commissary of marine, are in this point of view specially 

 interesting: 



lihum^ of oyster operations in the basin of Arcachon. 



Tear. 



1865 

 18G6 

 1867 

 1868 

 1869 

 1870 

 1871 

 1872 

 1873 

 1874 

 1875 

 1876 

 1877 

 1878 

 1879 

 1880 



Nurobor of 

 pares. 



Con- Exist - 

 ceded. ing. 



207 

 4 

 89 

 94 



80 

 21 

 276 

 371 

 106 

 1,175 

 626 

 306 

 301 

 285 

 184 

 144 



297 

 301 

 340 

 434 



464 

 485 

 761 

 1, 132 

 1,238 

 2,413 

 3, 0»9 

 8, 345 

 3,646 

 3,931 

 4,115 

 4,259 



Number of 



o.> slers ex- 



' ported. 



10, 584, 



7, 852, 

 4, 921, 



8, 599, 

 10, 145, 



6,541, 



4, 897, 



10, 796, 



25,711. 



42. ,'542, 



112,715, 



196,885, 



202, 392, 



176, 500, 



160, 197, 



195, 477, 



Value 



Francs. 



338, 705. 



282, 070. 



191,175, 



319, 186 



419,784 



352, 666. 



268, 332. 



537,51.") 



1,159,397 



1,745,050. 



2,817,630 



3,941,309. 



4, 456, 288. 



4, 426, 500. 



3, 944, 241 



4, 254, 465. 



00 

 00 

 00 

 35 

 00 

 12 

 50 

 00 

 00 

 00 

 00 

 00 

 00 i 

 63 

 88 

 .64 



=«5 

 h ■*- 



Francs 

 40 

 40 

 16 

 37 

 45 

 58 

 55 

 50 

 41 

 45 

 25 

 20 

 22 

 25 

 25 

 25 



