[49] OYSTER AND MUSSEL INDUSTRIES. 873 
The collecting appliance thus modified is of a much more practical 
character, as the artificial stalactites form an inclosure where the oyster 
can be reproduced, and from whose surface the young can be easily re- 
moved. ,But even with this improvement it will be insufficient for 
the necessities of an industry which has so suddenly assumed colossal 
proportions, unless the interior of the structure be filled with fagots 
and branches, among which the embryos find unlimited space for spread- 
ing themselves. Thus sheltered, the branches, kept from contact with 
the mud, will, as I have already frequently demonstrated, be more 
abundantly filled with the embryos than if exposed in the open sea. 
But whether the industry be prosecuted upon the naked planks or in 
artificial stalactites, whether upon inclosed or open wicker-work, whether 
upon surfaces sometimes exposed or always submerged, it is still the 
same industry, furnishing everywhere proofs of incomparable success, 
and organizing effective appliances for fertilizing all the coasts where 
its development may be attempted. 
Thanks to the rapid progress already made in this industry, it is now 
possible to retain in a space of a cubic meter in extent more than 
_ 100,000 embryos. So that with a simple outfit of twelve or fifteen hives 
of the dimensions given a million individuals may be obtained, which 
can be raised in a space of one hectare. 
Now these oysters, representing in the pond when they have attained 
marketable size a value of at least 25,000 francs, it follows that, from 
the 800 hectares of surface in the bay of Arcachon suitable for this 
oyster culture, an annual revenue of 12,000,000 to 15,000,000 frances 
may be derived. What wealth for France, and what a lesson for the 
people! 
A simple arrangement of the productive bottoms, a watchful care, 
and the necessary appliance for collecting the seed, will give this 
wealth and this salutary lesson. 
Although the entire bay of Arcachon may be transformed into one 
vast oyster-bed, there are two localities, the point of Germanan and 
the space comprised between Estey de Crastarbe and the port of the 
island of Oiseaux (bird island), which are best adapted to the purpose 
of reproduction. The muddy, pebbly, and uneven bottoms will afford 
every opportunity for the various methods. 
_ Lhave, therefore, the honor of proposing to your excellency that the 
government agents be ordered to proceed at once to the organization of 
two kinds of model farms, which will be at the same time public stor- 
ages for seed and great areas for the concentration of the harvests. 
The superabundance of seed which the collecting apparatus cannot 
hold will spread far and wide over the shells and artificial repositories 
with which the bottom of different parts of the bay will be covered, and 
will furnish, both to the hand fishery and the boat fishery, a continu- 
ally renewed source of food. This portion of the harvest will be con- 
mon property. 
