962 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [20] 
to keep the entire structure in place, and prevent the movement of the 
water from causing the tiles to fall into the mud. 
‘The results in 1867 were fair, but did not equal those of the first 
year. 
““T observed that tiles placed upon the bottom did not remain as clean 
as when placed above it. Here, therefore, was another point to be con- 
sidered. 
“In the month of November, 1867, I bored a hole at each end of my 
tiles. But, before doing this, I measured off the points where the holes 
should be, in order that they might correspond exactly in all the tiles, and 
permit of the tiles being joined in pairs opposite to one another. The 
wires, with which the tiles were strung together, measured each about 
46 inches. Two tiles were first strung together, by means of a wire pass- 
ing underneath and through the two extremities. Two more were then 
arranged in the same manner, but opposed to the first, and the series 
continued up to twelve. This work being finished, I passed a stake, 
about fifty-three inches long, through the middle of the bundle of tiles, 
and wound the four ends of the wires firmly around the top of it, which 
projected about five or six inches above the uppermost of the tiles. In 
this manner they were firmly fastened to it. 
“T proved that my new invention was entirely successful and would 
resist the action of the sea. These collectors also had this additional 
advantage, that they could be placed in the water without the necessity 
of wading through the mud; from the boat in which they were carried 
we could set them up in the parks. This system has been so highly ap- 
preciated that all the culturists have adopted my invention, and it is the 
only one in use to-day.” 
Being as practical as it is reasonable and as judicious as economical, 
this system has given excellent results. The mode of arrangement varies 
but little in the different parks. M. de Wolbock perfected the system, 
by slipping very thin pieces of board between the tiles; but this addi- 
tion, which is an excellent one, does not in any way alter the principle 
upon which the apparatus is constructed. 
Coating the collectors.—If bare collectors had always been used, the 
greatest difficulty would have been experienced, when it came to the deli- 
vate operation of removing the young oysters from them. Coste, himself, 
when he rejected stone, simply followed the idea that the oyster, when it 
adheres too strongly to the surface of the collector, is wounded by the 
operation of removal. When breeding was first attempted at Arcachon, 
as well as at the He de Ré, and along the coast of Morbihan, numerous 
trials were made, and finally, after many drawbacks, the only rational 
system was arrived at, by applying unconsciously, perhaps, a principle 
which, had it been proclaimed in the beginning, would probably have 
averted many a failure. The science, to which M. Gressy and M. Henri 
Leroux appealed, plays an important part in oyster culture, and must 
