[17] OYSTER-CULTURE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, 923 
BERRE, CARONTE, THAU, LEUCATE, AND AGAY. 
In view of the large extent (20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) ) of water 
known as Lake Berre, it is astonishing that human industry has not 
yet taken possession of this little sea, which, in many respects, is to 
the Mediterranean what the basin of Arcachon is to the ocean. By its 
situation and close proximity to large centers, which would afford a 
market for its productions, and by the richness of its marine fauna, 
Lake Berre would seem destined to occupy an important place in fish 
culture. The astonishment which I express is shared by a large num- 
ber of persons, and it is asked what are the reasons that have retarded 
the use of this lake for the cultivation of marine animals. One of the 
principal reasons, to which I cannot call attention too strongly, for it is 
essential that it should be correctly viewed, is the lack of success which 
has attended a majority of the attempts at shell-fish culture made in the 
Mediterranean, which lack of suecess has given rise to doubt and dis- 
couragement in the minds of those who are disposed to undertake the 
cultivation of marine animals. There is another matter which cannot 
be considered too seriously, viz.: that at the time the experiments were 
commenced, our knowledge of fish culture was still in a rudimentary 
state, and yet the results obtained, as is apparent from what I have said 
concerning Toulon and shall have to say further on in speaking of Lake 
Thau, were not of a nature to wholly justify these discouragements. 
In the ocean it has not been without uncertain groping; without the 
efforts of individual enterprise; and above all, without sacrifices on the 
part of the administration of the marine, that the prosperous state has 
been reached, which I am sure will manifest itself at the Universal Ex- 
position. The solicitude of the minister of marine and of M. Coste has 
been extended with equal favor both to the Mediterranean and the ocean, 
but private industry has been less persevering on the southern coast 
than on the western. 
Lake Berre presents the best conditions for the breeding of edible 
shell-fish and other fish. The clovisse, the praire, &c., live there natur- 
ally; mussels of an excellent quality are sufficiently abundant to make 
it profitable for forty boats to spend a large part of their time in fishing 
for them. Nor is the oyster a total stranger to this locality, for some 
were formerly found there, and in the neighborhood, near Port-de-Boue, 
very fine ones still exist. The shores are formed of shell sand, very rich 
in lime, and in many places are covered with marine plants common to 
the most fertile oyster-cultural stations of the ocean, such as Marennes, 
Tremblade, the island of Oléron, &c. The lake receives several streams 
and rivers, and numerous pure and fresh springs are found on its banks. 
Its water, which is neither too salt nor too fresh, never attains an ex- 
cessive temperature so as to endanger the life of the aquatic animals 
which industry might confide to it. Its density is very variable; in the 
