[53] OYSTER AND MUSSEL INDUSTRIES. 877 
The platform collector, with multiplied compartments (Fig. 1), con- 
sists of several series of double stakes (A) separated by a space of 12 
to 15 centimeters only; arranged in squares like a chess-board, at a 
distance of about 2 meters from each other, and divided by passages for 
convenience of cultivation (EZ) about 60 or 70 centimeters in width. 
Two corresponding holes, the first at 50 centimeters from the bottom 
of the bay, and the other 25 or 30 centimeters above the first, pierce 
the coupled stakes. A pin (I), either of wood or iron, passed through 
the lower hole, converts the stakes into a kind of trestle, and serves as a 
resting-place for cross-pieces made of a single piece of timber (B), at least 
2 meters and 20 centimeters in length, and from 10 to 12 centimeters 
in diameter. These cross-pieces should be solid, because they are to 
bear the weight of the flooring, consisting of planks (D) supported 
horizontally at their extremities by the lower cross-pieces, and placed 
as close together as possible. Other cross-pieces (C), of the same 
length as those already mentioned, placed above the planks, and held 
together by pins (J) passed through the upper holes, keep all the planks 
in place. If it should happen that there be too much play between the 
upper pins and the cross pieces they hold in position, a wedge (Q) placed 
between the two will prevent this inconvenience. Wooden wedges (Q’) 
serve also to fasten such planks as are too movable. Whenever it is 
desirable to take the planks apart, either to carry them to some other 
supports, or to turn them and isolate the young oysters, which are 
large enough to resist the deleterious action of the mud, or to inquire 
into the state of the crop, or examine the surrounding bottoms, all that 
is necessary is simply to pull out the upper pin (J’ ) and remove the 
eross-pieces (C’) that hold. the planks down. The wood best adapted 
for making these planks is that of pine or spruce; the planks should be 
from 2 meters and 10 centimeters to 2 meters and 15 centimeters in 
length, and about 20 to 25 centimeters in width; one side of which is 
made rough with an adze, the chips to be left adhering to the plank. 
These chips which project 2 to 3 centimeters, offer a larger and better 
surface to the embryos, and also make it easier to gather the oysters 
which adhere to them. The chips may be replaced by a bed of shells 
of cockles, clams, scallops, mussels, or of pebbles as large as a nut, 
which can be fastened to the planks with a cement made of tar and rosin. 
Finally, to increase as much as possible the points to which the spat 
may fasten themselves, small branches of chestnut, oak, vine cuttings, 
&e., are tied on to the planks (DD), holes being bored through them for 
the purpose. 
In pares, viviers, &c., where the bottom is rocky or hard, and piles 
therefore cannot be used, stones should be used as asubstitute; these (G) 
should be about 70 centimeters high and 25 centimeters thick, pierced 
at certain points with holes sufficiently large to receive the cross-pieces 
(B ©), and also a wedge (H) to hold the latter in place, and held in posi- 
tion by masonry or by means of iron clamps. 
