738 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 



necessary to refer to the thefts committed on the beds, which are of 

 incei^sant occurrence. 



These thefts are committed openly. The thieves not only attack the 

 reserved beds, but may be seen to take up their position on pares owned 

 by individuals, breaking the claires, and taking away their contents. 

 The employe's of the marine, though well-intentioned and of undoubted 

 loyalty, are not in a position to meet the depredations of these undaunted 

 robbers. 



Asa fact, the means at the disposal of the maritime authority are not, 

 in the generality of instances, adequate for the pursuit and capture of 

 the poachers. This class of pirates being furnished with swift craft, 

 having an admirable knowledge of the grounds upon which they are 

 operating, and always taking advantage of rough weather, cannot, as a 

 rule, be caught. 



The coast guard will never be able to act efScaciously until they have 

 steam sloops at their command. This expedient, which has already 

 been recommended by M. Eobin, a member of the Senate, seems to me 

 to be the only way of insuring an effectual surveillance. 



But this is not all. When, under fortunate circumstance, the thief 

 has been captured, the punishment awaiting him is really ridiculous. 

 One may see a man who, in a few hours, has stolen oysters worth two 

 or three hundred francs condemned to pay a fine of five francs! 



Another very important cause of the deterioration of the natural beds 

 is the overdredging. Before reaching a marketable size, the oyster 

 requires a period of time which may be computed at two or three years. 

 Now, on certain parts of our coasts, and especially in the rivers of 

 Auray, dredging is conducted every year. True it is that fishermen 

 are recommended to throw back under sized oysters, but everyone must 

 see that this is an ineffectual measure. It ought to be made imperative 

 that dredging should not be conducted on the same bed oftener than 

 every second or third year. Such is the practice at Arcachon, and I 

 have had occasion to point out that the results are excellent. 



A further cause of the non-development of oyster-cultivation, iu Brit- 

 tany, at all events, is the rent (to my mind too high), which is exacted 

 from the concessionaires of the shore. 



While at Arcachon the rent ranges from 30 to 45 francs the hectare, 

 according to the position of the pares, cultivators In Brittany pay no 

 less than 100 francs for an equal area. 



Now these shores are fit for no other purpose; they are simply mud 

 banks, without any value whatever. The sum of 100 francs the hectare 

 is more of the nature of regular rent than a concession. 



Here, then, is a really high tax pressing heavily upon a new indus- 

 try which, on every account, deserves protection and encouragement. 



Besides the interest which this industry presents iu itself, it is not to 

 be forgotten that the oyster-cultivation occupies each year a great uum- 



