CHAP. VIIL] GROWTH OF THE PARK SYSTEM. 353 



and had seen the oyster-spat grow to maturity, began think- 

 ing of oyster-culture simultaneously with Professor Coste, and 

 wondering if it could be carried out on those portions of the 

 public foreshore that were left dry by the ebb of the waters. 

 He determined to try the experiment on a small scale, so as 

 to obtain a practical solution of his " idea," and, with this 

 view, he enclosed a small portion of the foreshore of the island 

 by building a rough dyke about eighteen inches in height. In 

 this park he laid down a few bushels of growing oysters, plac- 

 ing amongst them a quantity of large stones, which he gathered 

 out of the surrounding mud. This initiatory experiment was 

 so successful, that in the course of a year he was able to sell 

 6 worth of oysters from his stock. This result was of 

 course very encouraging to the enterprising mason, and the 

 money was just in a sense found money, for the oysters went 

 on growing while he was at work at his own proper business 

 as a mason. Elated by the profit of his experiment, he pro- 

 ceeded to double the proportions of his park, and by that 

 means more than doubled his oyster commerce, for, in 1861, 

 he was able to dispose of upwards of 20 worth, and 

 this without impoverishing, in the least degree, his breed- 

 ing stock. He continued to increase the dimensions of 

 his farm, so that by 1862 his sales had increased to 40. 

 As might have been expected, Beefs neighbours had been 

 carefully watching his experiments, uttering occasional sneers 

 no doubt at his enthusiasm, but, for all that, quite ready to 

 go and do likewise whenever the success of the indus- 

 trious mason's experiments became sufficiently developed to 

 show that they were profitable as well as practical. After 

 Beef had demonstrated the practicability of oyster-farming, 

 the extension of the system over the foreshores of the island, 

 between Point de Eivedoux and Point de Lome, was rapid 

 and effective ; so much so that two hundred beds were con- 

 ceded by the Government previous to 1859, while an addi-. 



2 A 



