958 © REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 
hesitated to continue his labors in the difficult branch of oyster culture, 
has given numerous details of the failures in the use of stone. It would 
be needless to enter here into a long argument upon this subject; this 
kind of collector does not seem likely to come into general use. At 
Pénerf, however, limestone has been employed with some good results. 
With wood there is not the same difficulty, and it is even now used, 
either in small rectangular pieces about the size of a tile, and half an 
inch thick, or made into platforms, such as are in use especially in the 
river Auray. 
Fascines have been experimented with, especially by M. Chaumel, 
and, as they may answer for some sections, it may be useful to give some 
idea of their construction. The following account is by M. Chaumel: 
“Kor the construction of good fascines, it is necessary to procure 
branches of some hard wood, with the bark as soft and smooth as pos- 
sible; cherry, for example, answers perfectly. It is a great error to 
suppose that the embryo oyster attaches itself more readily to rough 
surfaces than to smooth ones, for precisely the contrary is true. 
‘‘ After the wood has been prepared, the branches are arranged alter- 
nately, with the large end of one branch next to the smaller end of the 
adjoining one, so as to prevent their lying too close together and 
leave interspaces between them; then at each extremity, under the cord 
which binds them together, a large wedge is introduced, the object of 
which is to prevent compression when the bindings are tightened. In 
this manner, the fascines have plenty of light and water about them, and 
the embryos have ready access and may attach themselves to any part 
of the branches. It now simply remains to attach the fascines to a small 
chain, at intervals of about two yards, by means of pieces of wire, like 
those used in binding the extremities, care being taken, however, to 
fasten the wire around not more than one or two branches, in order not 
to draw them together. 
‘‘Fascines are the best collectors I know of for use at the bottom, and 
the oysters may be detached from them, to some extent, even with the 
fingers, especially after the lapse of a year. By this method not a single 
oyster is lost; they may perhaps be a little defective in form, but to so 
slight an extent as not to affect their sale. It is a singular fact that 
fascines which become uncovered give but poor results.” 
We do not believe that, along the shores of Morbihan, fascines are des- 
tined to play an important part as collectors. Planks will also become 
less and less used; made into platforms they have been employed in 
the river Auray, and M. Liazard gives the following description of those 
in use by him: 
‘My platforms are constructed of four, five, or six thin boards, accord- 
ing to their widths; they are joined together by three bars, about three 
inches high. Those which I shall construct this year will consist of only 
four.thin boards, as I wish to leave a space of about an inch and a half 
