976 | REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [34] 
But, in a general way, it must be acknowledged that the cage is indis- 
pensable to the culturist, whether he possesses greater or less numbers 
of them. They are necessary to his work, if only to be used as “‘ambu- 
lances.” We have several times examined oysters, the shells of which 
had been completely broken, even to the loss of some portions, and 
which placed in cages with wire coverings, and thus protected against 
enemies, but at the same time subjected to the vivifying action of light 
and of currents of fresh water, grew surprisingly. The shell healed, 
and, what is a remarkable phenomenon, new calcareous scales formed 
most rapidly over the wounded portion, as if to cover it quickly and 
afford complete protection to the mollusk inside, with the least possible 
delay. 
The MM. Martin on the one side, and Solminihac and Mauduy on 
the other, have several times utilized, with good results, the numberless . 
bits of lime and cement, chipped off by the removal of the oysters from 
the tile, and formerly rejected, by placing them in the wire cages. It 
suffices to place all these chippings in cages, the meshes of which are 
quite fine, and, at the end of a few months, there will appear upon this 
calcareous waste fine little oysters of good growth. From a stock of 
from three to five million of young oysters, they were quite surprised to 
find about four hundred thousand saved in this way. 
In general, all oysters placed in cages, whether they be newly hatched, 
the young, small seed, or oysters of three years’ growth, improve remark- 
ably, and better than under any other system. 
Experience upon this point is conclusive; theoretically the oyster cage 
is excellent, but practically, should it always be employed? This ques- 
tion, to be answered in each separate case, would require a consideration 
of the location of each park. We will only mention that there is, first 
and above all, a question of expense to be considered. 
Everything depends upon the increased value given to the oysters, by 
allowing them to remain in the cage. A cage costs from four to five 
dollars; is generally six feet and a half long, thirty-nine inches wide, and 
six and a half inches deep; it needs to be kept in good repair, is de- 
stroyed by the rusting of the wire, in three or four years, and, conse- 
quently, is subject to continued renewal. Each culturist should make 
his own calculation, and if he has any certain method of proceeding, 
with sufficient profit, without the use of the cage, there is no reason 
why he should employ it. But we repeat that, generally, such is not the 
case, and the wire cage renders a great service. It furnishes a solution 
to the question of raising oysters in the first stage. 
M. Gressy acknowledges it himself, but maintains that the raising 
of young oysters in cages is possible only in basins, where the surf has 
no action. He adds, that the newly hatched oyster, left to itself, will do 
well enough without the cages, by attaching itself to a well-selected 
place. 
‘The location best adapted to the young oyster, not attached to the 
