358 PROSPERITY OF THE OYSTER-GROWERS. [CHAP. vm. 



Three delegates from each of the communities are elected to 

 conduct the general business, and to communicate with the 

 Department of Marine when necessary. 



A small payment is made by every farmer as a contribu- 

 tion to the general expense, while each division of the com- 

 munity employs a special watchman to guard the crops, and 

 see that all goes on with propriety and good faith ; and al- 

 though each of the oyster-farmers of the He de Ee cultivates 

 his own park or claire for his own sole profit and advantage, 

 they most willingly obey the general laws that have been 

 enacted for the good of the community. It is pleasant to note 

 this. We cannot help being gratified at the happy moral re- 

 sults of this wonderful industry, and it will readily be supposed 

 that with both vine-culture (for the islanders have fine vine- 

 yards) and oyster-culture to attend to, these farmers are 

 kept very busy. Indeed, the growing commerce the export 

 of the oysters, and the import of other commodities for the 

 benefit of so industrious a population incidental to such an 

 immense growth of shell-fish as can be carried on in the 

 4000 parks and claires which stud the foreground of Ee 

 must be arduous ; but as the labour is highly remunerative, 

 the labourers have great cause for thankfulness. It is right, 

 however, to state that, with all the care that can be exercised, 

 there is still an enormous amount of waste consequent on the 

 artificial system of culture ; the present calculation is, that even 

 with the best possible mode of culture the average of repro- 

 duction is as yet only fourteenfold ; but it is hoped by those 

 interested that a much larger ratio of increase will be speedily 

 attained. This is desirable, as prices have gone on steadily 

 increasing since the time that Beef first experimented. In 

 1859 the sales were effected at about the rate of fifteen shillings 

 per bushel, for the lowest qualities the highest being double 

 that price ; these were for fattening in the claires, and when 

 sold again they brought from two to three pounds per bushel. 



