[33] OYSTER AND MUSSEL INDUSTRIES. 857 
Francs. 
achvouchot produces annually) 2c. - -nusmereieis tars ot sues sec 1, 500. 00 
DeEduching annual OxpPenSesi. ce vacate a aaicrcoewseh see cas 1, 136. 00 
NEL RO RO Mies zee clot ace oheise pete Rede ey eee eres + 6 364. 00 
To which should be added the interest on capital of 2,049 
TEV ENES eee Staystea ssid, eS sare afer kei Sass eeis oe ee Gp epee the we 102. 45 
MNS eM coe ac at seein sos Sahn ave en I, cht ae feetan ene .-- -466. 45 
The labor of both men and women is included above in the annual 
expenses. 
If this statistical report made by M. d’Orbigny gives a correct esti- 
mate of the condition of things, the business must have developed ¢on- 
siderably since that time (1846). Instead of the 340 bowchots then in the 
Bay of Aiguillon, there are at present nearly 500; and I do not think I 
make any mistake in these figures, for, after having taken them on the 
spot, a letter which I received from the mayor of Esnandes confirmed all 
my estimates. 
M. Belenfant, commissary of marine at Rochelle, by the information 
he was so kind as to give me, and by the interest he manifested in ac- 
companying me in my exploration, has also contributed a great deal 
toward the investigation of all the details of this industry. 
[APPENDIX TO THE FIRST EDITION.] 
D.—DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE MARINE FISHERIES 
1.—REPORT TO HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR ON THE CONDITION OF 
THE OYSTER BEDS ALONG THE COASTS OF FRANCE AND ON THE 
NECESSITY OF RESTOCKING THEM. 
Paris, February 5, 1858. 
SirE: The domain of the sea, like the earth, may be cultivated; but 
this domain being public property, to the government belongs the duty 
of applying such methods as science has demonstrated to be the most 
suitable for the execution of so grand a scheme, and then leave to its 
grateful citizens the harvests which have been prepared by its care. 
I have, therefore, the honor to submit to Your Majesty, according to 
command, the various plans which promise to promote the success of 
this useful innovation. I will commence with those which relate to the 
multiplication of oysters on the shores of France. 
The oyster trade has already fallen into such a state of decadence, 
that, unless a prompt remedy be at once applied, the source of production 
will soon be utterly exhausted. 
At La Rochelle, Marennes, Rochefort, and in the isles of Ré and 
Oléron, out of the 23 beds lately forming one scource of wealth of that 
portion of our shores, 18 are completely destroyed, while the others, still 
