956 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 
The site being chosen, they endeavor to locate between ordinary low- 
tide level and the level of low water during the spring-tides. Collectors 
placed in these situations are only exposed during spring-tides, and 
remain almost entirely covered at ordinary low water. There isa great. 
advantage in keeping as near.as possible to the channels, and to the 
natural oyster banks, for there are to be found fewer eddies, more cur- 
rents, and a greater number of embryo oysters. 
M. Henri Leroux, to whom we have already had occasion to refer, 
sums up in the following just and brief manner, concerning the condi- 
tions which ashore should possess, in order to fit it for breeding purposes: 
“Up to 1867, it was supposed that breeding could be carried on most 
successfully in those portions of the river where the water was most 
tranquil, but quite the reverse is true. Nowhere do the collectors be- 
come more fully covered with the young, than in the currents produced 
by the ebb and flood tides, and above all at the level of low water. 
Parks situated in a region of eddies are poorly located. In 1867, it was 
still conceded that the embryo oysters, leading as they do a wandering life 
for several days, must scatter themselves more or less equally through- 
out all parts of the rivers, where natural oyster beds exist. At present 
we are given to understand that, at a distance of 500 meters from an 
oyster bank, in the direction of the mouth of the river, no embryos are 
to be encountered; whereas very many oysters will attach themselves 
‘to the collectors arranged in the bottom of the river, above the oyster 
bed, these being carried up by the flood tide. 
“The parturition of the oyster seems to take place rather at low water 
than at high water. It is essential, therefore, that the breeding parks 
be established in as close proximity to the oyster beds as possible, and 
also in the course of the tidal currents; at any rate, they will have no 
chance of success, if exposed to the violent action of the sea.” 
These ideas present to us an example of the foresight of private 
industry, which is more powerful in its results than the wisest rules. 
One cannot always locate close by a natural bed, and again natural 
beds may die out, as experience has unfortunately taught us. Hence 
the culturists are always careful, when not breeding, to retain about their 
breeding parks a strong reserve of adult oysters. M. Alphonse Mar- 
tin, who has such a well-managed establishment at Kergurioné, keeps 
30,000 oysters in reserve, and the Baron de Wolbock has 50,000 at Kér- 
iollet. Thus, when they fear a scarcity of young, from the exhaustion 
of the beds, this reserve series becomes of the utmost importance. 
MM. Leroux:and Leroy have a supply of 800,000 oysters, whence their 
supply of young is derived. So perfect a system cannot fail to produce 
good results. 
Natural oyster beds, bordering the parks where oysters are kept in 
reserve, increase the richness of the results. The quantity of young 
produced will be augmented, and, in consequence of this prolific inter- 
change, the richness of the oyster beds will be insured for the future. 
