922 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 
covered with these little shell-fish that Messrs. Gasquet thought best to 
immerse them in the park in order to allow the young ones time to grow. 
Is not this indication calculated to put shell-fish culturists in the way 
of an improvement in the processes and methods to be employed in col- 
lecting spat? It is not right to attribute to chance alone, or to the mere 
influence of the currents, the preferences which these young animals 
seem to have for this sort of collector rather than for the hurdles by 
which they are surrounded, or the aquatic plants of the shore. Have 
not the fishermen of Tarente, who have carried on their industry for a 
long period of time, always used, and do they not use still, horizontal 
ropes as collectors? At all events, the observation is worthy of note. 
The edible sea-urchin is common on the coast of the Mediterranean. 
At Marseilles, Toulon, &c., it is largely consumed. It is also found in 
the ocean, but a very serious difficulty stands in the way of its artificial 
propagation there. It spawns below low-water mark, so that its prog- 
eny may not be exposed from a lack of water at low tide. In the Med- 
iterranean it propagates on the spot where it is found, which renders its 
culture possible in such places. The sea-urchins preserved in the park 
of Messrs. Gasquet propagated last summer, and in September I saw 
some ten or twelve young ones, of the size of hazel-nuts, collected round 
a couple of adults, which had been isolated for observation and had evi- 
dently given them birth. 
The violet (Ascidia cynthia) is not considered edible by all the inhab- 
itants of the sea-coast. Nevertheless, those found in certain localities 
on the Mediterranean possess remarkably fine qualities. The ancients 
were very fond of these ascidians, and ate them prepared in vinegar, with 
green or raw mint seasoned with vinegar.* Before the fishermen had de- 
vastated our shores with their drag-nets ascidians were not uncommon in 
the roadstead of Giens. They are now almost unknown, and Messrs. Gas- 
quet are right in seeking to bring about their increase. It appears from 
the observations made by these experimenters that this ascidian is fond ° 
of rather deep places, those, for instance, ranging in depth from 14 to 2 
meters (5 to 63 feet); it seeks localities where there are seaweeds to 
furnish it with food, and there it establishes itself permanently. In 
default of aquatic plants it attaches itself to any stable body. It does 
not dislike water but little salt or even slightly muddy. Like the sea- 
urchin, the ascidian has thrived at Giens, and will now, no doubt, con- 
tinue to exist there, as it has a tendency to grow and multiply in the 
parks where it has been planted. ® 
Such is the result of the fortunate experiments made by Messrs. 
Gasquet in their marine establishment at Giens. If, as it is to be hoped, 
shell fish culture comes to take its place among the new industries, to 
them will be due the honor of having taken the initiative and of having 
marked out the path to be followed. 
*Docteur Ozenne, Essai sur les mollusques. 
