968 | REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26] 
“The number of collectors to be arranged within a given area varies, 
and no absolute rule can be laid down regarding this point. The force 
of the current and the degree of impurity of the water should guide 
each culturist, in determining the number of collectors he may be able 
to accommodate in his concession. Whenever mud begins to accumu- 
late at the base of the collectors, the culturist finds an experimental 
proof that there is not sufficient space between them, and that, conse- 
quently, he should decrease their number. 
“The first [ have upheld, and even to-day, against the general opin- 
ion, I still maintain that the concessions are overloaded with collectors. 
My own concessions contain, in proportion to their extent, many less 
collectors than those of my neighbors. 
“T consider it very necessary to prevent the deposition of mud. I 
cannot forget that, on the He de Ré, oyster culture had to be abandoned, 
because the concessions became filled up, after having succeeded adini- 
rably for several years. 
“The space to be left between each group of the bouquet collectors 
varies also, according to the length of time which they are to remain in 
place. 
“Tt is evident that the culturist, who leaves his collectors in the water ° 
eighteen months, should separate them more inorder to prevent the depo- 
sition of mud than he who removes them in November of the same year 
in which they are placed, that is to say, after an interval of only four 
months. 
“Tn this latter case, the mud has not sufficient time to form a deposit, 
and the current, after the collectors have been removed, sweeps every- 
thing away, during the winter season.” 
The method deseribed by Dr. Gressy is practiced by all his associates 
in oyster culture, with various modifications. 
For instance, in the parks of the Baron de Wolbock we find groups of 
from twenty to twenty-four “bouquet” collectors, separated by inter- 
spaces of about six anda half feet; they are arranged in rows both par- 
allel with, and at right angles to, the channel. MM. Gressy and Ku- 
gene Leroux have their collectors arranged in series, running at right 
angles to the channel, and formed of rows of ‘ bouquets,” each row con- 
taining three “bouquets.” The series are separated from one another 
by a passage-way, about six and a half feet wide. 
We have already had occasion to state that the principal advantage to 
be gained by the use of the “bouquet” collectors is that everything can 
be prepared on land, and the collectors set up in the parks almost on a 
fixed day, by merely sinking the stakes in the mud. 
One can judge of the truth of this by the following statement of M. 
Eugene Leroux : 
“In 1871, I had the use of a large barge, which was very flat and drew 
very little water; it was about thirty-two feet long and nearly ten feet wide. 
I could load it with a large number of collectors, and it also had other 
