Or 
[11] CONDITION OF OYSTER CULTURE IN 1875. 89 
of the marine sub-district of Lorient, certain that they will receive in | 
the future what is promised by the present. 
Rapid increase in the number of oyster-cultural establishments at Arca- 
chon.—At the close of 1871 the parks controlled by private parties in 
this basin numbered 724 and occupied a total area of 588 hectares (1,450 
acres); at the close of 1872 they were 1,133 in number and occupied an | 
area of 1,061 hectares (2,625 acres); at the close of 1874 they numbered 
1,706 and covered an extent of 1,733 hectares (4,310 acres), not counting 
the portion formerly included in the reserved zone but now given over 
for parking. The denomination ‘ Reserve Zone” was applied to a consid- 
erable section of the basin in which parks were prohibited in order to 
retain a common fishing ground which could be frequented by all. In 
view of the great increase in oyster culture at Arcachon, both to satisfy 
the claims of the old parkers, who complained that they were cramped 
for room, and to meet the new demands which were constantly increasing 
in number, the minister of marine decided, on January 28, 1874, to open 
up the greater portion of the reserve zone to private industry. There- 
mainder of this zone, positively withheld from private demands, com- 
prises exclusively the natnral beds of the basin with their immediate 
surroundings, which it is important to protect against all intrusion, as 
the prosperity of the parks depend upon their preservation. In pursu- 
ance of the ministerial decision of January 28, the first work of dividing 
off the sections for distribution was carried on during the year 1874; a 
decree has just been issued for the formation of 728 new parks, which, 
added to the 1,706 now existing, will make a total of 2,434 concessions 
and an extent of 2,669 hectares (6,625 acres) to be occupied by oyster 
culture. A second work of the same character has just terminated ; a 
third will soon follow. 
Prosperous condition of the establishments at Morbihan.—In Morbihan 
the development of oyster culture is no less striking. The section of 
Vannes contains nearly 200 oyster-parks, while that of Auray will soon 
have 500 and requests are still coming in. Thus, persons in all stations 
of life are engaging in oyster culture, either by investing their capital in it 
or by laboring for it. Many of them are without experience in the matter 
and it, therefore, seems proper and opportune to add to this brief his- 
torical sketch a few practical remarks concerning the processes now in 
use for the cultivation of the oyster. A knowledge of the processes 
which have the authority of success will, perchance, guide inexperienced 
oyster culturists in the right direction and prevent mistakes ; it may also 
incite others who are still indifferent or timid. 
Il—PRACTICAL REMARKS ON OYSTER CULTURE. 
Different kinds of collectors.—The first apparatus used to collect the 
spat of oysters were the plank collectors of M. de Bon, and the bundles 
of fagots, stones, and shells of various mollusks, as recommended by M. 
Coste in his first publications. We have seen that the parkers of Can- 
