[47] OYSTER CULTURE IN MORBIHAN. 989 
Napoleon ILI, in his youth, had a passion for studying these ques- 
tions, and sometimes lent an attentive ear to these grand socialistic 
theories; this was why Coste obtained so much support from the Em- 
peror. Led away by his own ardor, he did not notice that he was gliding 
down a fatal slope, and that he would fall at last,in spite of all his 
efforts. If, instead of going to the Tuileries, he had addressed himself 
to an association of capitalists, or to the trade, who could have par- 
ticipated in his confidences, then oyster culture, disengaged from the 
shackles of the state, would, from the beginning, have taken a higher 
stand and progressed with surer steps. 
We do not wish to underrate the importance of the part played by 
the state, for we are going to appeal to its aid in another matter; but 
we think it should be well understood that the two domains, of industry 
and of government, are totally distinct. By confounding them, power- 
lessness replaces fertile effort, and the most important work is crowned 
only with failure. 
We do not wish, in any way, to diminish the gratitude due to those, 
whether functionaries of state or others, who have labored for the cre- 
ation and development of this industry; but we feel the necessity of 
proclaiming, in a certain measure, the omnipotence and vigilance of in- 
dividual interest. We believe that, imbued with this thought, the public 
administration would desire, even more in the future than in the past, to 
free from fetters and obstacles the pathway along which this: industry 
must move, in order to attain a high degree of prosperity. 
Necessity of establishing parks for raising and fattening oysters.—The 
prosperity of oyster culture will be secured when, in addition to breeding, 
«a matter already of certainty, there is established a methodical system 
of raising and fattening. 
‘The oyster,” says Dr. Kemmerer, “ which is now rather a luxury, would 
become an article of general consumption. In Paris, in the month of 
January, 1875, more than 185,635,000 French oysters were consumed, a 
flattering result for oyster culture. The oyster culturists of Marennes 
acknowledge that, out of seven millions of oysters, they lose six in their 
fattening parks, which is a shameful acknowledgment for the industry.” 
We have no influence over these figures, but. we are going to endeavor 
to roughly sketch out the oyster statistics of the present and of the 
future, in this interesting department of Morbihan. 
According to the statements furnished us by the commissioners of 
maritime inscription, there are, within the approximate limits of Morbi- 
han, 535 oyster parks, occupying an area of about 1,065 acres. It is diffi- 
cult to make a division between the breeding parks and the parks for 
aising and fattening. A careful examination, however, leads to the 
following classification: 100 acres are used for breeding, and 965 for rais- 
ing and fattening. It will be prudent to reduce the last figure to 750, 
because several parks are but little used, and many are almost aban. 
doned, 
