914 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] 
TOULON. 
The roadstead of Toulon presents, on first examination, most favorable 
natural conditions for the cultivation of oysters, mussels, and edible 
shell-fish in general. All the edible species common to the Mediterra- 
nean occur there, and it produced, moreover, in the early part of the 
present century, very fine oysters. Gradually, however, the exhaustion 
of the natural beds there began to be felt, as was the case with most of 
tries, and procuring oxact data from M. Théodore Soelfeldt, who had come to Paris to 
study the French industry, he resolutely set to work in the month of April of last 
year. 
Various circumstances appeared to him encouraging : first, the presence of the oys- 
ter in the North Sea; second, the small amount of salt contained in the water of that 
sea; third, the favorable influence of the Gulf-stream on the climate of these regions, 
and finally, the ease with which shelter may be found in the numerous fjords which cut 
into the shores of the peninsula of Norway. A bay situated a few leagues from Chris- 
tiania (toward the fifty-ninth degree of north latitude) was the spot chosen for the 
experiment. It was necessary to guard against the inconveniences resulting from 
the early setting in of winter, from the slight rise and fall of the tides, which at the 
_ sysygies rise but a foot or a foot and a half, and from the violence of the storms which 
sometimes displace a volume of water more than 7 feet in depth. On the arrival of 
winter in Norway, that is to say, toward the beginning of September, the young oys- 
ters are still too young to resist the shocks and sudden changes of temperature. It 
was, therefore, of the greatest importance that they should not come into contact with 
the outer air. These difficulties were surmounted in the following manner: In tke 
upper part of the establishment a supply reservoir, fed by a pump, worked by wind, 
was dug. Immediately beneath, within a house which protected it from the rigor 
of the cold, was placed a basin for holding the eggs, measuring 8 meters (26 feet) in 
length by 6 meters (19 feet) in width. A leaden conduit, furnished at its upper part 
with a grating fine enough to stop the passage of harmful fish, and in its lower part 
with fancets to regulate the supply of water at will, brought the two reservoirs into 
connection with one another, This tube took several windings and passed through 
an inclosure filled with water, which could be heated when necessary so as to main- 
tain the water supplied to the hatching basin of a nearly uniform temperature. The 
level of the water in this latter basin was regulated by means of a tube, the opening 
of which was covered with a filter to prevent the escape of the young oysters. In this 
basin 2,200 female oysters were placed at the commencement of the season, and, 
although they had undergone the fatigue of a long journey, they emitted such a 
quantity of spawn that it was found upon the collectors by which they were sur- 
rounded. 
This first experiment, as will be seen from the above, succeeded well, and the system 
jnvented by General Wergeland for obtaining larval oysters in inclosed places could 
be developed to any desired extent. The General intends to try and obtain the spawn 
of free oysters, if the season be mild enough to permit, by surrounding with fascines 
a natural oyster bed that has been recently explored. He proposes subsequently to 
inclose the young oysters in floating preservative boxes, and to raise them on the spot. 
The labors, works, and schemes which I have just explained are due to the in- 
itiative taken by General Wergeland, whose laudable ambition it is to render to his 
country the same services which M. Coste has rendered to France. He is now en- 
gaged in restocking by means of pisciculture the large and beautiful lakes of Norway. 
If he succeeds, as there is every reason to believe he will, his country will be indebted 
to him for the introduction of a branch of industry for which there is a great future 
in store. 
