[13] OYSTER AND MUSSEL INDUSTRIES. 837 
common, the future advantages of the trade. It is not sufficient that 
these mollusks acquire a particular distinguishing flavor; it is not 
sufficient that they contract greenness (viridité); it is necessary that 
these qualities be impressed upon them in their early stages of ex- 
istence by the continued influence of cultivation in the claires. That is, 
in fact, the sole guarantee of their real value. 
Thus the cuitivators of oysters in Marennes who desire to satisfy 
their patrons and to preserve a good reputation for their products never 
admit any except young oysters in their reservoirs, in order that the 
action of the improving agents, being exerted upon them as they de- 
velop, may become constitutional. They choose anfong those from the 
storage-ponds the youngest which the laws permit them to detach from 
the natural beds of the country, that is to say, those of twelve or 
eighteen months, which are from 5 to 7 centimeters long. The amareil- 
leurs in making a choice give the preference to those having the best 
shape, separating such as adhere together, freeing them from all foreign 
substances, and making, so to speak, their toilet, before admitting them 
to this new regime. 
When this sorting is finished, they spread them out with long-handled 
rakes on the bottom of the elaires, previously prepared to receive them, 
taking care afterwards to spread them out with the hand in such a 
manner that in growing larger they will not crowd each other, and, by 
their mutual contact, interfere with each other in the free movement of 
their valves and the preservation of their regular forms. . The ostracul- 
turist, in a word, imitates the plan adopted by the agriculturist in re- 
setting his plants. He plants about 5,000 to the journal of the claires, 
that is to say, in the space of 33 ares. The young colony, installed 
in this new home flourishes under a covering of water, which is kept at an 
average height of from 18 to 30 centimeters, is never renewed except at 
the great spring-tides, and which rises only at these epochs, descending 
again to its former level after each periodical submersion. The calm 
and repose which the new-comers enjoy in these tranquil basins are 
so mantained that nothing more is needful after installation than to pro- 
vide against accidental causes which may produce some disturbance, 
and this then becomes the object of constant solicitude. 
When the great spring-tides advance or decline, the workers care- 
fully watch the movement of the waters. They see that they flow in 
. and out freely, repairing the timbers which the waves displace, and 
neglect nothing to insure the proper working of the hydraulic apparatus 
which each claire represents. If they do not take the greatest care to 
preserve the integrity of the reservoirs, fissures cause leakages which 
will diminish the mass of water, so that there will not remain suf- 
ficient to preserve the oysters against two influences equally injuri- 
ous, that of great heat, and of rigorous cold. Their vigilance must, 
then, be redoubled ahener er excesses of temperature are to be ex- 
pected. To secure the water they completely close the opening of the 
