970 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERTES. [28] 
The stake has this great advantage, that it dispenses with all compli- 
cated apparatus and is both easily and rapidly set up. Those culturists 
who do not employ the stakes encounter many difficulties in the matter 
of setting up their apparatus. 
“When I arrange my collectors,” says M. Liazard, “TI begin by plac- 
ing three small horses of rough wood upon a sort of wooden frame, 
composed of three strips 1,4, inches thick by two inches wide, which, 
including the laths, furnishes a framework, to build upon, of twenty-six 
inches. The horses rise from six to ten inches above the bottom, thus 
permitting the water to circulate freely under the collectors and pre- 
venting the accumulation of mud. In certain very muddy localities, I 
have been obliged to make the horses from twelve to sixteen inches high. 
I first place a row of tiles, which are fastened through the middle. The 
frame will hold twenty-eight tiles, and, therefore, a second row, com- 
posed of the same number of tiles, is arranged transverse to the first, 
and this operation is continued until there are eight rows in all. My 
clusters thus contain two hundred and twenty-four tiles. Above the 
tiles I place a platform, which binds everything together, and on the 
‘platform enough stones are laid to prevent the movement of the water 
from displacing anything. 
‘‘When panels are used, they are ordinarily arranged in the same man- 
ner as the tiles, to the number of eight, upon a framework, resting upoa 
three trestles, and are covered with mats loaded down with stones.” 
“One of the greatest difficulties arising, when many collectors are to be 
placed, is in the matter of properly accomplishing the work at the two 
low tides of the Syzgies. At that time, as many workmen as possible 
should be engaged, and the work proceed with great haste. Itis some- 
times badly done, and often nothing is accomplished.” 
As we have said, it is mainly in the river Auray that“ hives ” are used, 
either constructed of tiles or of wood. The system followed is analogous 
to that described by M. Liazard; however, the “bouquet” has been 
judiciously applied there by M. Thevenard. 
Parks arranged with “hives” are much more subject to a deposition 
of mud then those set with “bouquets.” The débris from frames and 
platforms, which sometimes remain upon the bottom, may lead to a seri- 
ous elevation of its level, and, consequently, a firm bottom is much more 
suitable for “hives” thanan unstableone. This distinetion must be taken 
into account in considering the reason why the “hive” is sometimes pre- 
ferred to the “ bouquet.” 
Consolidation of the bottom.—However much care may be taken to 
avoid muddy shores as much as possible, still, it is sometimes necessary 
to work upon them, and as we have already said, in some places a man 
would sink into the mud up to his neck. A means of visiting the parks 
without sinking into the mud was, therefore, sought. It was a difficult 
problem, and all the culturists declare, that, if there had been long to 
wait for the simple and economical solution which has been found, 
oyster-cultural attempts at Morbihan would have ended in failures. 
