700 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [18] 
In October the young oysters, which have become firmly attached, are 
freed by means of chisels from the larger of these objects of attachment, 
and are then placed in flat boxes, 2 meters long, 1 meter broad, and 15 
to 30 centimeters high. In detaching the young oysters about one-third 
are destroyed. 
The boxes into which the young oysters are placed are made of thick — 
plank, with wire-sieve bottoms, through which the water can pass in 
and out. At the corners of each box are fastened stakes which serve 
to raise the box above the sea-bottom, so that there will be a depth of 
water of about 10 centimeters between the ground and the wire netting. 
The object of this protection is to guard the young oysters against small 
erabs (Carcinus menas), “drills” (Murex erinaceus), and other enemies, 
which formerly destroyed great numbers of young, as the breeders of 
Arcachon found out by bitter experience. At this period the shells of 
the young oysters are too thin to protect their soft bodies from their ene- 
mies. While in these breeding-boxes the young oysters must be kept 
continually under water, so as not to be destroyed, either by being left 
dry, by the heat of summer, or the cold of winter. In order to accom- 
plish this square trenches, from 30 to 40 meters long and 4 to 5 meters 
broad, are dug in those portions of the oyster-territory which are left 
dry by the ebb-tide. The side walls of these excavations are made firm 
by means of posts and planks, and the spaces between the planking 
and the banks are packed with clay. The bottom is covered with sand 
and gravel to serve as a bed for the oysters. At one of the four sides a 
canal, with a gate, is formed, through which, at the pleasure of the 
breeder, water can be allowed to flow in during the flood or to pass out 
during the ebb-tide. In these artificial ponds, called claires, the boxes 
containing the young oysters are placed, nourishment being brought 
to them by the water which forces its way in through the sieve- 
bottoms. As often as the condition of the water renders it possible, the 
breeder opens the tops of the boxes, in order to permit the free entrance 
of air and light and to remove any accumulations of dirt which may 
have lodged upon or around the oysters. Two months later he takes the 
oysters from the boxes and strews them about upon the bottom of the 
breeding-pond. In these ponds they must not be placed too close to- 
gether if their best growth is desired. Even into these ponds their numer- 
ous enemies will make their way, and in order to protect the oysters from 
these hordes of spoliators a small-meshed net is drawn over them. It 
is very desirable to change the oysters, once or twice during the course 
of the year, into neighboring ponds which have been purified by lying 
entirely dry for several months. During the warmest and also during the 
coldest months, especially during ebb-tide, a depth of water of at least 
20 centimeters must be retained over the oysters. This troublesome and 
tedious handling is demanded for at least two years before the oysters 
can be brought to market. At least this is the case in the Bay of Arca- 
chon. In the year 187475 there were produced in this bay 112,000,000 
