922 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. [lO] 



area varies from 2 to 4 acres. At Weineldinge very expensive excava- 

 tions are being made at the present time for an enormous pare in the 

 most fertile ground inside the dikes. Its bottom and sides are of brick 

 laid in cement. The water will be supplied by two pumjDs, worked by 

 steam, one of which will introduce fresh water into the basin, while the 

 other will carry off the water. As the basin is subdivided bj' zigzag- 

 shaped partitions, the water which is pumped in has to go through all 

 parts of the basin before it flows out. This is in several respects an 

 interesting experiment. The principal object is to become to some de- 

 gree independent of the state, as it is supposed that this basin, besides 

 receiving the collectors with young oysters, and the " hospitals," will 

 also be used for fattening oysters, where they will remain until ready 

 for the market. 



The most striking objects in these Dutch oyster towns are the large 

 quantities of bricks, some red and others covered with lime. In the 

 course of the winter the bricks are burned in the numerous brick-kilns 

 in the neighborhood, and during spring and far into June people are 

 busy covering them with lime. It is very important that the lime should 

 be perfectly dry before the bricks are laid on the beds. Lp,st year from 

 15,000,000 to 16,000,000 of bricks were used as collectors in the basin 

 of the Schelde, a single firm in Berg- op- Zoom alone using in 1882 

 1,200,000 ; and it is probable that at no very distant period bricks will 

 be used exclusively for collectors. 



In the Netherlands the bricks are covered with lime in the following 

 manner : If the brick is new, it is first dipped into a thin lime mixture 

 (CaO), so as to cover up the fine pores of the brick. When this cover is 

 dry the brick is dipped in a mixture of one pare lime (CaO), one part 

 carbonated lime (OaCOs), two parts sand, all of which is well stirred un- 

 til it has the consistency of mush. As it is important that the cover 

 should be as even and smooth as possible, both the lime and sand are 

 sifted through fine sieves. The brick is then carefully dried in the sun. 



In June and July there may be seen in the small Dutch towns whole 

 fleets of flat-bottomed boats or small vessels taking in full cargoes of 

 these bricks. At high water they sail into the lot for which they are 

 destined. Here the bricks are thrown out helter-skelter, and as soon 

 as the water is low they are arranged in regular rows. The bricks are 

 placed on their edge, the long side downward, one close to the other; 

 and as every brick runs to a point, there will be a space of from 1 to 2 

 centimeters between every two bricks. There is nothing to prevent 

 several such rows of bricks being laid one on the top of the other. 

 Formerly the bricks were laid with the flat side downward, one layer 

 above the other, but the present method has been found to be more 

 practical, as in this way the bricks are better protected against cou- 

 fervce, sand, and imj^urities. 



Where the water is so deep, even at low water, that the collectors 

 oannot be arranged by hand, they are let down from the boats in small 



